Film Review:- "Dad's Army"

YES, we are a bit behind reviewing this film as it came out on 5 February 2016, but it has been flagged by many as trading on nostalgia rather than breaking new territory. There's no doubt that it's not an original, but what is in the cinema as of late? Dad's Army is a classic from the BBC that has a huge pull, not only in the UK, but across the World. The original Dad's Army is a BBC television sitcom about the British Home Guard during the Second World War. It was first broadcast on the BBC from 1968 to 1977, with simple and extremely funny plots, written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. It is such a loved TV show, that people took to social media to voice concerns when they heard it was to be remade as a film following David Croft's death, in 2011, aged 89. Many of the original cast are also no longer with us, like Arthur Lowe, who played the original Captain Mainwaring, who died in 1982, and John Le Mesurier, who is best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson, died back in 1983. Then you also have the likes of Clive Dunn OBE, played an elderly butcher called Lance Corporal Jones, who became one of the best loved characters. Sadly, Clive died at 2012 leaving a hard part to follow. This cast were so amazing that this simple TV show has stood the passage of time. The show has become part of the Nation's identity and a kind of mythology has built up around it, as the original actors gave so much life to the characters. It's always hard for actors to take on roles which are very well known and much loved, especially once those that have given rise to so many catch phrases and have become ingrained within every day use. You just have to hear such a phrase and you instantly picture the Dad's Army character who said it, like Corporal Jones and his "Don't Panic" statements.... So it was with some trepidation that I went to see the film. So far film critics have given very mixed reviews about this remake, with quotes like:- "David Croft will be turning in his grave." But in reality this is a very well made remake which stays close to the characters of old, plus the style of acting along with the plot line is very classic Dad's Army. Thankfully, I found this a fantastic homage to the original. Watching it proved to be a very pleasant experience and yes, it was kind of strange seeing new faces at first, but this issue soon disappeared. Clever casting has ensured that the characters resemble their TV counterparts sufficiently to make the transition easier, and contrarily to many adaptations either way, their personalities and habits are perpetuated. A good story line which, even if a little implausible and with a few continuity issues, was convincing and kept the interest. That implausiblability and stupidity was what you would expect in the classic TV shows. Sadly, a few of the classic characters did not use the catch phrases as often as the original characters did in the TV show. Captain Mainwaring's "You stupid boy!" should have been used a few more times, as well as the "Fuzzy Wuzzies" statements by Corporal Jones. Looking harder at that mind you, it might have been for the best as someone might have complained that it's not politically correct. It was good to see them use a old story line from the classic TV show in which Violet Gibbons (Sally Douglas), played an ATS girl to whom Pike is briefly engaged, much to Mainwaring's disapproval. It was also a way to bring in the various wives, in the form of ATS members, in to the new plot in a very enriching way. As ever, even with the light hearted delivery and with all the foibles, it still portrayed the essence of Britain's resistance and resilience.

Just as with the original TV show, we do not want to disclose too much detail as the plot is simple and very easy to follow, but if you do not know what the plot is...

A group of mis-fits set up a Home Guard unit and are based in a village called Walmington On Sea in 1944, as World War 2 rages on. The Home Guard platoon is lead by a local banker called Captain Mainwaring, based in the local Village Church Hall, they are tasked with protecting key parts of the South Coast from the Germans, should the invasion occur, as seemed very likely. As the plot moves on it reveals Catherine Zeta Jones play a glamorous journalist, arrives to do a report about the platoon, but not everything is as it seems. This is all before MI5 discovers that there is a German spy, hiding in the fictional British town.

With good production design by Simon Bowles, and the cinematography by Christopher Ross, that was close to the original style, it amounted to a very good evening's light entertainment.

What are your views of this film as we would love to know? Please email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com with your thoughts...

Our popcorn rating:-

4˝ kernels out of 5 kernels