ridiculous rating

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Dad's Army is the feature film version of the hugely popular BBC television sitcom of the same name. Directed by Norman Cohen, it stars the familiar faces of Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, John Laurie, James Beck, Arnold Ridley & Ian Lavender.Written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, Dad's Army the series ran from 1968 to 1977, much loved due to its simplicity and warm humour involving the British Home Guard during world War II, a feature film version was inevitable. Sadly the makers were unoriginal with their approach and cheekily cashed in on the standing that the public had rightly put upon the show. For make no bones about it, this is a poor film not doing justice to the sharpness of the TV shows, in fact this is merely a collage of ideas used from earlier episodes in the show. The plot is very basic and the usually excellent cast are asked to trundle out a series of gags that had long since run their course.Die hard fans of the show will still warm to the characters (how could they not since they are wonderful creations?), and those unaware of the actual TV show will quite possibly enjoy the film as an afternoon time filler with a cup of tea. But it's a lazy cash in and it's telling that no sequel was made to tarnish further what remains a classic bit of British television. Filmed between series three & four, the show (thankfully) would survive this blot and continue on an upward curve of quality and good time British humour. 3/10

There's nothing left undone about this Perry and Croft masterpiece - as good as any of the best episodes, thankfully it was still filmed in time before the late James Beck sadly passed away to be included in it to show his talent.It shows right from the start, how the platoon is formed from the state of national emergency, showing the boys as inept under Captain Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) and Sergeant Wilson (John Le Mesurier) as they usually are through the series.Along the way, Mainwaring does his usual longing to show authority but the chaps can't help but let him down at every turn, during wargames and suspecting an invasion. They have a chance in the film though to redeem themselves when they actually capture the Nazi airmen who take the church congregation hostage.That was a nice finale especially as Mainwaring had been able to prove himself to the General, being given one last chance to shape up. A great film, plenty of good lines and laughs, it's another one for the DVD cupboard - I'm glad the BBC is repeating it - and on this day 2.8.08 they deservedly had 'Dad's Army Night'. Not to be missed!

Im a die hard Dads Army fan and nothing will ever change that. I got all the tapes, DVD's and audiobooks and every time i watch/listen to them its brand new. The film. The film is a re run of certain episodes, Man and the hour, Enemy within the gates, Battle School and numerous others with a different edge. Introduction of a new General instead of Captain Square was a brilliant move - especially when he wouldn't cash the cheque (something that is rarely done now).It follows through the early years of getting equipment and uniforms, starting up and training. All in all, its a great film for a boring Sunday afternoon. Two draw backs. One is the Germans bogus dodgy accents (come one, Germans cant pronounced the letter "W" like us) and Two The casting of Liz Frazer instead of the familiar Janet Davis. I like Liz in other films like the carry ons but she doesn't carry it correctly in this and Janet Davis would have been the better choice.

Perhaps the TV show was just too good, or having the Germans land in Walmington was just too improbable. Whatever, this film version of the much-loved BBC classic doesn't quite work. Everyone in it is fine but it is less slapstick and silly than it was on the small screen, and suffers a bit in comparison. I do like the bit where the stuck up officer sails down river on a bit of broken bridge still sitting on his horse though, and the oil slick machine is pretty funny!