ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, April 19, 1997               TAG: 9704210116
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO THE ROANOKE TIMES

TOO MUCH ACTING TALENT FOR SUCH A POOR MOVIE

The talents of Tom Arnold and Tim Curry are wasted in this movie based on the old TV series.

"McHale's Navy" is a second-rate feature based on a second-rate TV series. No surprise there; Hollywood loves these disposable movies with built-in audiences, and nobody really expects anything from them.

This one's still a disappointment, though, because it wastes the talents of star Tom Arnold, who's turning into a good leading man. The haphazardly slapped together script simply doesn't play to his strengths. Instead, it's an ensemble piece about frivolous characters in silly situations.

Vladakov (Tim Curry), the second best international terrorist, arrives on the Caribbean island of San Ysidro to restore "the old world order." At the Navy base on the other side of the island, the new commander Binghampton (Dean Stockwell) is taking over. His officers are the prissy Ensign Parker (David Alan Grier) and by-the-book Lt. Carpenter (Debra Messing). Retired Cmdr. McHale (Arnold) knocks around in his old PT boat, sells ice cream and beer to the scruffy sailors, and coaches little league baseball.

Guess who'll save the world.

The plot becomes needlessly complicated as it goes along. The nautical action scenes are nothing special, and the only time the comedy really works is in one barroom brawl. Arnold does have a few funny lines, and in odd moments, Stockwell sounds like he's been sucking on helium.

Director Bryan Spicer's only previous big-screen credit is "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie." He's done most of his work in episodic TV, and that shows in the film. The pace is quick; the production values are weak and the humor is geared toward a young audience.

The film itself could be a pilot for a new series.

McHale's Navy *

A Universal Pictures release playing at Salem Valley 8. 109 minutes. Rated PG for mild violence.

LENGTH: Short :   47 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  Quinton McHale (Tom Arnold) has come out of retirement 
          for this movie sequel to the '60s sitcom.