A pair of dentists deal their own unique blow against the Third Reich in this low-key British comedy, which is actually based on a true story. In 1942, war rages all through Europe as Nazi Germany has taken France, attacked London, and defeated British forces at Dunkirk. In the midst of this chaos, Sgt. Peter King (Kenneth Cranham) and Pvt. Leslie Cuthbertson (Leo Bill) are serving in the village of Aldershot as part of the Royal Army Dental Corps, whose motto is "An Army Who Can't Bite, Can't
Fight!" Eager to do more than fill cavities or pull wisdom teeth as the fate of Great Britain hangs in the balance, Sgt. King hatches a mad scheme to leave his post, make his way across the English Channel, and launch his own miniature invasion of France. Logically assuming that some assistance would be a good idea, he persuades Pvt. Cuthbertson to join him, and armed with ten grenades, a pair of pistols, and 20 bullets, they set out to take on the Vichy troops all by themselves. Derek Jacobi and Rosanna Lavelle highlight the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
The mission, which the soldiers codenamed Operation Mad Dog, would have been delicious as a documentary, but director John Henderson goes for an antic Two Stooges Abroad approach.
An enjoyable, amusing and unpretentious film about a couple of English eccentrics - dentists whose eccentricity is not evident until their actions gave them away.
Henderson's warm and toasty little gem of a film, slight though it may be, reminds you that the Greatest Generation, full of vim, vigor, and -- most important -- an indefatigable sense of purpose, grew up on both sides of the Big Pond.
Here's something you wouldn't have thought possible after the gory realism of "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Thin Red Line": a sweet, whimsical little World War II film.
A delightful little comedy told with a great deal of warmth and charm. It's a unique kind of war story that may not win the war, but has no trouble winning over the audience.
What an unexpected delight is this true-ish wartime tale of two army dentists determined to do something for the war effort. A grizzled WW1 Sergeant and callow private go AWOL, heading for Cornwall and then to France armed with a rucksack of grenades, a couple of pistols and the odd dental tool. Possessing a comic
lightness of touch rarely seen in Britain since the halcyon days of the Ealing comedies, this wonderful tale of British eccentricity is hilariously funny mainly because it never goes for the obvious laugh. Realisitic enough that the adventure is frequently nerve-wracking, with a splendid plot that constantly wrongfoots your guesses, the mismatched comic pair of Kenneth Cranham and Leo Bill work brilliantly. Filmed in vibrant colours so rarely seen in a British film, the movie succeeds way beyond its modest ambitions. It's the rare sort of film that banishes the blues and puts you in a good mood that lasts for ages afterwards. What more can you ask from a film than that?
I seem to be on a 'based on true events' roll here. I must have come across this on as a preview on some other rental disc. Can't imagine where else I'd have found it.
Regardless, you've got 2 quite likable characters...and what characters they are...who bumble their way to successfully completing their
self-assigned mission. You've got to wonder about fate...or just blind luck. They're fortunate they didn't kill themselves or each other.
I found the movie to be quite humorous...and just all around entertaining. Some beautiful scenery surely didn't hurt either. No major budget, no high profile sex symbol stars, no extreme violence or nudity. Just your general well told tale.
I have a dentist's appointment in a few weeks. I'll be looking at him in a completely different way now.
'It's all rather hush hush like almost everything else that's common knowledge around here."
"An Army That Can't Bite, Can't Fight"
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