Last night film was Dad’s Army (2015) and I found it enjoyable viewing but if a bit of an impostor. I have grown up with the original TV series and even last night on BBC 2 there was an airing of ‘Number Engaged’ first aired in 1977. I thing since it first was aired on the BBC in 1968 there hasn’t been one year it has not been reshown.
It is always hard to watch a remake without comparing it to the original... This film stands better if you can resist the urge to make the comparison with its original.
The original was set around the aftermath of the Dunkirk evacuation and the beginnings of the Home Guard being formed shown in early episodes of the TV show and the earlier Dad’s Army film. This new step into the franchise was set around 1944 and the upcoming D Day landings, which help separate the two.
*** Before you read any further this review contain spoilers ***
Morale amongst the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard is low. After years of training and never being put to the ultimate test against the German enemy they so desired and with the end of the war in sight and disbandment on the cards there is nothing to be happy about. Handed a new mission to patrol the Dover army base which Captain Mainwaring (Toby Jones) sees has a great chance to revive spirits and the reputation of the platoon and jumps at the chance.
A glamorous journalist Rose Winters (Catherine Zeta-Jones) arrives to write about their exploits, setting the pulses racing among the Home Guard and putting the local women on red alert. She was previously knew Sergeant Wilson (Bill Nighy) who taught her in college.
Miss Winters is the baddie a German spy and her first message to her Nazis overlords “infiltrated Home Guard platoon … they are weak and stupid … easy prey” which is a fair assessment. MI5 intercepted the message to Berlin so alerting them to the presents of a spy in Walmington-on-Sea. Mainwaring is informed and told to keep the information a secret … soon the whole platoon are in a panic.
Of course, they believe the spy must be a man but the real spy Miss Winters manages to get herself on the first patrol of the army camp where she comes across a field of hidden tanks. When Lance Corporal Jones (Tom Courtenay) falls over the cliff and is hanging on for his life Walker (Daniel Mays) at the fence of the army camp acquired some rope to help Jones up. Jones saved they see the fake tanks as they fly away.
Then the slapstick action begins with Miss Winters framing Sergeant Wilson as the spy and tips off Mainwaring with the help of Lance Corporal Jones Tom Courtenay apprehends him. However, soon the finger points to Miss Winters thanks to Godfrey (Michael Gambon) dopy sisters who finds out she lived in Berlin who knew it was that easy.
Mainwaring, before knowing the full facts rushes off to inform Miss Winters of the situation regarding Wilson. Soon some of the platoon rush to his rescue now knowing whom the real spy while on the beach Miss Winter’s true colours are eventfully shown with a U Boat surfacing off the beach. Mainwaring savers the day and with his platoon gets in five minutes of glory fighting off the German landing party so standing up to be counted and contributing something to the war with the help of Mrs. Mainwaring and her platoon of female soldiers.
One of the things the movie manages giving the female characters more time and development on screen. The lack of female characters on the show bothered me enormously. Take Mrs. Mainwaring, who was one of those "unseen" characters on the series, mentioned as being a domineering, intimidating hermit. She is shown in the movie as a leader of female soldiers, helping and encouraging their fellow men was one of the biggest changes.
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