Steven Spielberg's "1941" ranks as one of that legendary director's artistic nadirs. His first and only pure foray into comedy was derided by critics as a bloated, unfunny mess, and due to its massive budget it failed to meet its studio's financial expectations in stark contrast to Spielberg's previous efforts.Set on the California coast prior to Christmas 1941, the plot is inspired by the real paranoia and fear of an imminent Japanese attack that gripped the U.S. West Coast in the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Even in 1979, this was questionable material for a slapstick comedy and some of the WW2 generation objected including some older Hollywood stars who passed on roles in the film. To make it even more questionable, the film also has a full-fledged violent riot based upon the infamous 1943 Los Angeles Zoot Suit Riots which were racially motivated between white servicemen and Mexican-American youths wearing "unpatriotic" Zoot Suits. War induced paranoia and race riots are not exactly the stuff of knee-slapping comedy. Yet, Spielberg, who allegedly couldn't stop laughing while he read the screenplay, soldiered-on.One can definitely see what Spielberg was aiming to accomplish. He wanted to make a late 70's version of 1963's "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World," a very frantically paced, broad, and slapstick comedy with an all-star cast, combined with the cheeky sexual/fratboy humor of 1978's "Animal House." He even got John Belushi and Tim Matheson to reprise their "Animal House" roles except "Bluto" and "Otter" are respectively re-named: "Captain 'Wild Bill' Kelso" and "Captain Loomis Birkhead" in "1941."Sadly, the "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World"/"Animal House" combo didn't work. "1941" is essentially a who's who of late 1970's comedic talents frantically running around and shouting their lame dialogue while stuff explodes and falls apart about them as they deal with both imagined and real Japanese air and naval attacks. It just tries way too hard to garner its few tepid chuckles. The spectacle can be amusing at times, but it's mostly just exhausting, annoying, and tiresome. Even Spielberg has referred to "1941" as his "unfunny comedy."The film does have some decent stuff:1) John Williams' rousing score.2) Slim Pickens' small role as "Hollis Wood."3) The choreography of the USO dance and ensuing riot.4) Nancy Allen and Dianne Kay (the hot blonde sister from "Eight is Enough") in 1940's outfits are very nice eye-candy.However, overall, it's a just a very loud, overlong, not particularly funny, and indulgent mess that fortunately Spielberg was able to dust himself off from and move-on.

This movie is so ridiculous it's fun. Seen it many years ago, and it's still fun to watch, like Airplane, Cannonball Run and Blazing Saddles. They just don't make racy movies like this anymore, with exception to Django Unchained. It takes place just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Californians are worried about an attack on the west coast by the Japanese. So everyone comes to arms to defend the West coast. Including local folk, the armed forces, and everyone inbetween. John Belushi is hilarious as the crazy fighter pilot who is tracking a Japanese fighter group who has supposedly set up a base in California. Dan Akroyd plays a devote army fighter uniting all the different service units to fight the enemy and not fight each other. There's a love story in there too. Lot's of chaos. Lot's of action. Lot's of funny, as peeps deal with the idea of Japan invading America. It's a fun film.

Why do people hate this movie? it has comedy and adventure and war spoofs and fun little parodies to a certain Spielberg film which I shall not spoil here just watch the movie! What can I say other than well done the Master of Film has made a really fun and entertaining world war 2 parody! The Master of Film does not use the seriousness of the 2nd world war he uses the fun aspects of the war he uses a lot of jokes to complement the fun of the film some of the jokes are tired and old but they make you laugh mostly John Belushi's jokes! The cast is all star there are loads of people in this movie I could waste a lot of time naming the people in this movie! John Williams's outstanding theme perfectly captures the spirit and tone of the movie, just something to bear in mind about John Williams's score for this movie even though the movie was not received well by critics John Williams still writes an incredible score for the movie even for Hook the same principle applies but I will talk about Hook when I get there! I mean I ask the same question again and again why do people hate this charming and really funny Movie? I mean the Ferris wheel scene is really funny with the characters screaming and laughing their heads off as they roll down the Ferris wheel! The Ballroom scene where the two men out for the female lead affections really escalates and climaxes into this big ballroom bash it is quite funny and really entertaining! And while all this is happening the army general is in the cinema watching Dumbo and having a ball of a time laughing and having a great time! The Script is really engaging and fun but, some people complain about the running time of this movie yes it is 2 and a half hours long but a Spielberg lover like me does not care one tiny bit! If you can find this movie anywhere please watch it! So it is not Jaws or Close Encounters of the third kind but it is a great Spielberg movie and needs a lot more attention!

Hysterical Californians prepare for a Japanese invasion in the days after Pearl Harbor.Can you believe this cast? Robert Stack (in excellent makeup), John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Candy, Christopher Lee, John Landis, Dick Miller, Nancy Allen, Eddie Deezen, Joe Flaherty and the list goes on. Even if this was not a good film (and it is) you should check it out to see a performance from some great actors.While the humor is relatively low (Kubrick allegedly called the film "great but not funny"), there are some nice moments featuring parodies of previous Spielberg films "Duel" and "Jaws". Great sense of humor, Mr. Spielberg.Today, the Zoot Suit Riot is probably best known as a song from Cherry Popping' Daddies. But it really occurred, and it has never looked better in fiction than it does in this film with a wonderfully long dance and fight sequence that is the centerpiece of the whole film.