ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996                TAG: 9603040084
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 10   EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT 

'DOWN PERISCOPE' IS A LITTLE OFF COURSE

"Down Periscope" is a mildly entertaining, old-fashioned service comedy with a substandard script.

TV star Kelsey Grammer bears a striking resemblance to the young Bob Hope, and in his best moments he has Hope's light touch with throwaway humor. But he doesn't have much of a character to work with. Neither do his supporting actors.

They are the familiar lovable misfits and screw-ups who are the crew of the Stingray, a vintage World War II diesel sub recommissioned for a war game. Grammer is Commander Tom Dodge. For various reasons, including an embarrassing tattoo, he has been passed over twice for command. Admiral Graham (Bruce Dern) really has it in for Dodge, and hopes the games, the rusty sub and the bumbling crew will permanently scuttle his career.

On board the Stingray, Lt. Emily Lake (Lauren Holly) is the first woman to serve on a sub. Executive Officer Pascal (Rob Schneider) is a by-the-book popinjay. The enlisted men provide some fitful laughs but not enough is done with any of them. About 30 minutes into the film, character actor Harry Dean Stanton shows up as a grizzled diesel engineer. Perhaps his character's introduction got left on the cutting room floor.

Most of the action follows the conventions of the genre - the deep dive, silent running, water bursting through pipes and seams, etc.

Director David S. Ward has taken similar formula material and turned it into one of the funniest comedies of recent years, "Major League." He has also taken formula material and turned it into junk: "Major League II."

Place "Down Periscope" somewhere in between on the comedic spectrum.

Down Periscope

**

A 20th Century Fox release playing at the Crossroads Mall and Salem Valley 8. 90 min. Rated PG-13 for strong language and vulgar humor.

LENGTH: Short :   44 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  Kelsey Grammer leads a submarine crew in "Down 
          Periscope." color.