OPERATION DUMBO DROP (Released to Theaters USA 1995)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì  Operation Dumbo Drop—Danny Glover, Ray Liotta, and Dennis Leary—has a likeableness that permeates its core. The movie deserves a watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A Vietnamese village is going to celebrate a festival, but the Viet Cong find that the villagers are possibly cooperating with the USA. So the Viet Cong kill the one thing that makes the festival work, their prize elephant. A Green Beret, who works with the village and his replacement, organize a team to replace the elephant.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Simon Wincer for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Diane Nabatoff and David Madden for making the film possible. Cast includes Danny Glover, Ray Liotta, Denis Leary, Doug E. Doug, and Corin Nemec. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is an unusual story backed with a great cast. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THAT DARN CAT (Theatrical Release USA 1997)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

That Darn Cat—remake of the 1965 film of the same name—begins at the okay/good level and begins to quickly dissolve into a disorganized mess. The characters have no strength of personality, the actors do not become their characters, and the storyline is weakly written. The conclusion completely lets its audience down. The ‘bad guys’ come off as just ordinary people living life throughout the film until the very end and the switch comes as such a surprise. Watch the 1965 movie instead of this one. The 1965 version is honestly good entertainment for the whole family. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A kidnapped woman places her watch on a cat’s neck in hopes of getting help. The cat’s owner sees the watch and goes to the FBI for help. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Bob Spiers for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Robert Simonds for making the film possible. Cast includes: Christina Ricci, Doug E. Doug, George Dzundza, Peter Boyle, Michael McKean, and Bess Armstrong.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. If one wants to see the remake of the same name, this is it. But the film does not even begin to compare to the original 1965 release of this story. This movie has weak characterization, poor and disorganized presentation, and a conclusion that ruins the film. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers