McHale's Navy (1997 film)
Encyclopedia
McHale's Navy is a 1997 military comedy film
starring Tom Arnold
as the son of Lieutenant Commander
Quinton McHale (retired), known by the same name. The movie is based on the television series
that starred Ernest Borgnine
.
now commanded by Capt. Wallace B. Binghampton (Dean Stockwell
) and Lt. Penelope Carpenter (Debra Messing
). Capt. Binghampton believes his men have gone native and confiscates all of the products McHale has sold them. He wants to resurrect his career after having mistakenly sunk a luxury cruise liner.
Major Vladikov (Tim Curry
), the second best terrorist in the world, takes control of the baseball field and beach on San Moreno to stage an attack on the Pentagon. After Roberto inadvertently alerts Vladikov that to McHale's presence, Vladikov blows up McHale's home and nearly destroys his PT-73, a PT Boat
, as they have been rivals since training together under Cobra (Ernest Borgnine
). In fact, Vladikov is the man responsible for Roberto's father's death. Vladikov also invades the center of the village close to his new base and displaces everyone that lived there.
Cobra instructs Binghampton to stand down in favor of McHale. Upon learning that the village was destroyed, McHale accepts the assignment with the stipulations that he be given his old crew, men stationed at San Ysidro, and complete autonomy from Binghampton. Binghampton appears to agrees but enlists Ensign
Charles Parker (David Allen Grier) to spy on McHale. Slowly both Parker and Carpenter realize that Binghampton is inept.
McHale sets up a camp site for the villagers and heads to Cuba
for supplies to fix the PT-73 and and to combat Vladikov. McHale and his crew use a pirated variety show
broadcast to block Vladikov from stealing launch codes and entertain the villagers. Binghampton attempts an attack on Vladikov's base but upon arrival, it is vacated and shown to be a front. Vladikov has killed the men that hired him to blow up the pentagon as he motives are finally revealed. He was monitoring communications between McHale and Cobra and is aware that Cobra is en route. Vladikov attempts to kill Cobra using his stealth
boat. Roberto is aboard and he tries to short out the boat to no avail. After Ensign Parker saves Roberto, McHale successfully kills Vladikov. Cobra lands safely and reveals that he is McHale's father, none other than now Admiral
Quinton McHale, Sr. Finally, the film ends with the promotions of Lt. Carpenter and Ensign Parker, the US Navy rebuilding the baseball field, McHale re-retirement so that he may pursue a relationship with Carpenter and Binghampton's apparent demotion to umpire for a kids' baseball game.
. It maintains a 3% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
starring Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold (actor)
Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
as the son of Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Quinton McHale (retired), known by the same name. The movie is based on the television series
McHale's Navy
McHale's Navy is an American television sitcom series which ran for 138 half-hour episodes from October 11,1962, to August 31, 1966, on the ABC network. The series was filmed in black and white and originated in a one-hour drama called Seven Against the Sea, broadcast on April 3, 1962...
that starred Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine is an American actor of television and film. His career has spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film Marty...
.
Plot
Retired Lt. Commander Quinton McHale Jr. (Tom Arnold) has committed to spending his days taking care of the people of San Moreno, especially Roberto, his friend's orphaned son. He does this in part by trading goods and services and selling home-brewed beer, ice cream and swimsuit calendars to the men of the San Ysidro Naval BaseNaval base
A naval base is a military base, where warships and naval ships are deployed when they have no mission at sea or want to restock. Usually ships may also perform some minor repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that usually stay on the ships but are undergoing maintenance while...
now commanded by Capt. Wallace B. Binghampton (Dean Stockwell
Dean Stockwell
Dean Stockwell is an American actor of film and television, with a career spanning over 65 years. As a child actor under contract to MGM he first came to the public's attention in films such as Anchors Aweigh and The Green Years; as a young adult he played a lead role in the 1957 Broadway and...
) and Lt. Penelope Carpenter (Debra Messing
Debra Messing
Debra Lynn Messing is an American actress, voice artist, and comedienne. She is perhaps best known for her role as Grace Adler in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace and as Molly Kagan in the mini-series The Starter Wife....
). Capt. Binghampton believes his men have gone native and confiscates all of the products McHale has sold them. He wants to resurrect his career after having mistakenly sunk a luxury cruise liner.
Major Vladikov (Tim Curry
Tim Curry
Timothy James "Tim" Curry is a British actor, singer, composer and voice actor, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film and television productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California....
), the second best terrorist in the world, takes control of the baseball field and beach on San Moreno to stage an attack on the Pentagon. After Roberto inadvertently alerts Vladikov that to McHale's presence, Vladikov blows up McHale's home and nearly destroys his PT-73, a PT Boat
PT boat
PT Boats were a variety of motor torpedo boat , a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships. The PT boat squadrons were nicknamed "the mosquito fleet". The Japanese called them "Devil Boats".The original pre–World War I torpedo boats were...
, as they have been rivals since training together under Cobra (Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine is an American actor of television and film. His career has spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film Marty...
). In fact, Vladikov is the man responsible for Roberto's father's death. Vladikov also invades the center of the village close to his new base and displaces everyone that lived there.
Cobra instructs Binghampton to stand down in favor of McHale. Upon learning that the village was destroyed, McHale accepts the assignment with the stipulations that he be given his old crew, men stationed at San Ysidro, and complete autonomy from Binghampton. Binghampton appears to agrees but enlists Ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
Charles Parker (David Allen Grier) to spy on McHale. Slowly both Parker and Carpenter realize that Binghampton is inept.
McHale sets up a camp site for the villagers and heads to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
for supplies to fix the PT-73 and and to combat Vladikov. McHale and his crew use a pirated variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
broadcast to block Vladikov from stealing launch codes and entertain the villagers. Binghampton attempts an attack on Vladikov's base but upon arrival, it is vacated and shown to be a front. Vladikov has killed the men that hired him to blow up the pentagon as he motives are finally revealed. He was monitoring communications between McHale and Cobra and is aware that Cobra is en route. Vladikov attempts to kill Cobra using his stealth
Stealth
Stealth may refer to:*Stealth technology, technology used to conceal ships, aircraft, and missiles*Stealth aircraft, aircraft which use stealth technology*Stealth ground vehicle, ground vehicles which use stealth technology...
boat. Roberto is aboard and he tries to short out the boat to no avail. After Ensign Parker saves Roberto, McHale successfully kills Vladikov. Cobra lands safely and reveals that he is McHale's father, none other than now Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Quinton McHale, Sr. Finally, the film ends with the promotions of Lt. Carpenter and Ensign Parker, the US Navy rebuilding the baseball field, McHale re-retirement so that he may pursue a relationship with Carpenter and Binghampton's apparent demotion to umpire for a kids' baseball game.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Tom Arnold Tom Arnold (actor) Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:... |
Lt. Commander Quinton McHale, Jr. |
| Dean Stockwell Dean Stockwell Dean Stockwell is an American actor of film and television, with a career spanning over 65 years. As a child actor under contract to MGM he first came to the public's attention in films such as Anchors Aweigh and The Green Years; as a young adult he played a lead role in the 1957 Broadway and... |
Captain Wallace B. Binghamton |
| Debra Messing Debra Messing Debra Lynn Messing is an American actress, voice artist, and comedienne. She is perhaps best known for her role as Grace Adler in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace and as Molly Kagan in the mini-series The Starter Wife.... |
Lt. Penelope Carpenter |
| Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine is an American actor of television and film. His career has spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film Marty... |
Admiral Quinton McHale, Sr. (aka Cobra). |
| David Alan Grier David Alan Grier David Alan Grier , also known as "D.A.G." , is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.-Early life:... |
Ensign Charles T. Parker |
| Tim Curry Tim Curry Timothy James "Tim" Curry is a British actor, singer, composer and voice actor, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film and television productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.... |
Major Vladikov |
| Bruce Campbell Bruce Campbell Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:... |
Virgil |
| French Stewart French Stewart Milton French Stewart , better known by his stage name French Stewart, is an American actor, best known for his role as Harry Solomon on the 1990s sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun.-Early life:... |
Happy |
| Brian Haley Brian Haley Brian Haley is an American actor and stand-up comedian. His stand-up act is characterized by playing his all-American looks against manic outbursts and absurd situations... |
Christy |
| Danton Stone Danton Stone Danton Stone is an American veteran stage, film and television actor.-Stage plays:*Fifth of July *Angels Fall *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest... |
Gruber |
| Tommy Chong Tommy Chong Tommy Chong is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, writer, director, activist, and musician who is well known for his stereotypical portrayals of hippie-era stoners... |
Armando / Ernesto |
Reception
The film received largely negative reviews from critics and was a bomb at the box office, grossing only $4.5 million in ticket sales. McHale's Navy was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Remake or Sequel, losing to Speed 2: Cruise ControlSpeed 2: Cruise Control
Speed 2: Cruise Control is a 1997 action–thriller film, and a sequel to Speed . The film was produced and directed by Jan de Bont, and written by Randall McCormick and Jeff Nathanson, based on a story by de Bont and McCormick. Sandra Bullock stars in the film, reprising her role from Speed,...
. It maintains a 3% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.