McHale's Navy

MPAA Rating: PG

Entertainment: +2

Content: -1/2

While it's based on a popular 1960s TV comedy series, poor casting and an uninspired script sink this film. Tom Arnold stars as retired Navy Lt. Commander Quinton McHale, now running various money-making schemes on a tiny Caribbean island. But McHale's ventures are threatened by two new arrivals. By-the-book Captain Wallace Binghampton (Dean Stockwell) has taken over command of McHale's former base and doesn't like it that McHale is using the base's sailors and resources to run his businesses. Even more dangerous is the arrival of Major Vladakov (Tim Curry), who wants to use the island as a base for world conquest. However, he's so sensitive about being called the "second best terrorist in the world" that he has his own personal psychiatrist. His heavy-handed takeover catches the attention of a naval intelligence, however, and McHale comes out of retirement to spoil Vladakov's nefarious plans. It's an adequate plot, but the screenwriters forgot to put in some funny lines and situations. David Alan Grier does add a bit of slapstick humor as officious but clumsy Ensign Charles Parker. But most of the sailors helping McHale have no character to speak of, and overall this comedy is very short on laughs.

Preview Reviewer: Mark Perry
Distributor:

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Several (7) times Mild 3, Moderate 4

Obscene Language: Few(4)times (no f- or s-words, others 4)

Profanity: Few (2) times Exclamatory 2 (Oh my God)

Violence: Many times Moderate (bar fight with punches and throws, kick to head, man shot and killed, several fiery explosions and property destruction)

Sex: None

Nudity: None; near nudity once (calendar of women in bikinis)

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Man reads Playboy

Drugs: Few times (alcohol drinking, cigar smoking)

Other: Gambling

Running Time: 90 minutes
Intended Audience: Teens and Adults


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