Two Men Went to War

Image Not Available Starring: Kenneth Cranham, Leo Bill Director: John Henderson Original UK Premiere: 2002 Dvd Release: 11th August, 2003 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: PAL, Region 2 Encoding

Article Index: [Background Info] [DVD Review] [Biographies] [Articles/Resources] [Link To This Article] Looking To Buy? Buy This DVD Here

This film is a wonderfully refreshing antidote to the ever-present crop of dumb Hollywood blockbusters. It has what all these films lack: a superb script, wonderful performances of true depth, loving direction, & a real warm heart. The over-used phrase feel-good definitely applies here.

It is based on the true story of two frustrated army dentists who went AWOL in 1942 to go to France & do their bit, thoughtfully writing a letter to Winston Churchill explaining their intentions before they went.

It contains enough twists & turns to keep the viewer thoroughly absorbed throughout, a fine balance of belly laughs & more subtle comic sequences, as well as a few genuinely moving moments. All the performances are top-notch, especially from the two leads , whose odd-couple partnership & attendant bickering belies a touching father/son bond.

A tight, flowing script & rock-solid direction ensure there are no superfluous moments. Add to this some beautiful cinematography & a wonderful score & you have a thoroughly enjoyable & satisfying 104 minutes. And for those who absolutely cannot bear to sit through a film without witnessing an explosion of some description, there are even one or two included for good measure.

It is a real shame that this film was denied the wider cinema release it so richly deserved. As the majority of cinema chains in this country are American-owned, & therefore prefer to show American-funded films which fit their audience demographic, theres your answer.

My only real criticism of the DVD is that whoever was responsible for creating the viewer menu had trouble spelling the word Documentary... but that is a minor quibble. What matters is that a film of such obvious quality can be produced for a fraction of the average Hollywood budget. Buy this film & feel that warm glow of proud Britishness once more. So there you have it. And I didnt mention Dads Army even once!

©2004-2008 DVDArk.co.uk