Down Periscope (1996)
June 23, 2024 9:10 PM - Subscribe
Lt. Cmdr. Tom Dodge is assigned as Captain to the USS Stingray, an old diesel driven submarine that has seen better days.
Cmdr. Tom Dodge (Kelsey Grammer) is not thought of very highly among his fellow Navy officers. So when he's offered the captain's seat on a decrepit boat that is part of a simulated challenge on the water, no one expects much from him. Set on getting his underdog crew in line in order to win the event, Dodge must face off against his nemesis, Adm. Yancy Graham (Bruce Dern) -- who will do anything to see Dodge disgraced and finally kicked out of the Navy.
Steve Cimino: The best part is, they all look like they’re having fun. If anyone was showing up and collecting a paycheck, you can’t tell from the final product. Directed by Ward (of Major League fame) and written by Hugh Wilson (unsurprisingly, also the writer of Police Academy), it’s a throwback to an era when a comedy could make $37 million on a $31 million budget and no one would declare it a catastrophic disappointment (meaning, before the Internet). Although I’m not sure how Down Periscope cost that much goddamn money back in 1996.
David Szelowski: Dodge understands that teamwork is the road to success. His by-the-book (and overly rigid) executive officer, however, believes that the crewmembers are incompetent, and calls them "assholes." When he requests transfer because serving on the Stingray might damage his career, Dodge replies, "We are all in this mess together, mister, and you and your career are in the hands of those very assholes, including this one." This is a fine example of what should happen in real life. Observing leadership only from the top down is limiting and frequently false. More than 50 years ago, a young Lieutenant Herman Wouk proposed obtaining fitness report IL observations from the wardroom. His idea was to identify real combat leaders and to weed out the Captain Oueegs. This suggestion has resurfaced recently and should be implemented.
Dodge takes time to learn about his crew, and is able to use that information to his boat's later advantage. He finds out, for example, that his sonarman's hobby is to understand and mimic whale calls.
Ryan:Dodge’s intelligence and cunning serve him well as he deals with changes in the rules of the exercise, issued by Graham once he realizes he is losing, an attempted mutiny by Pascal (after which he makes him “walk the plank”), a leak in a main pipe as the sub reaches crush depth in one scene, and keeping the rest of his crew from blowing his chance at redemption, and hopeful promotion. As entertaining as Grammer always was as Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers and Frasier, it was enjoyable to watch him in a looser comedic role, as his well-known character from those famed television shows was often stuffy and straight-laced. Rob Schneider is actually quite funny in this movie, as is usually the case when he’s in a supporting role (his small part in Grandma’s Boy was hilarious). William H. Macy also stars as a by-the-book sub commander, and his even demeanor is hard to believe if you’ve ever seen him on Showtime’s Shameless (if you haven’t, stop reading this and go now). One revelation in the film that ends up being really funny is the fact that after a near impact with another sub years back, Dodge got drunk, passed out, and woke up with a tattoo of the words “welcome aboard” on his penis. When his superior Admiral Winslow (Rip Torn) is explaining to him the ins and outs of the war game and he recoils, Winslow screams “Damn it to hell, don’t go by the book! Think like a pirate! I want a man with a tattoo on his dick! Have I got the right man?” Dodge, vaguely ashamed, replies “By a strange coincidence you do, sir”. Another riotous scene, that’s really only that funny to me because I have a frighteningly immature sense of humor, lies in a scene in which a few of the crew switch out Lake’s uniform with a much smaller size, showing off body parts in a way unbecoming of a Naval officer. When Dodge catches wind of the prank and tries to get to the bottom of it, a series of unintended double entendres follow that make me laugh out loud, every time I watch the movie.
If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted film about a scrappy team of misfits who are thrown together to battle a more seasoned enemy, check out Down Periscope today. Everybody loves a good underdog flick, and this one is just that, and is loaded with consistent laughs, to boot. Grammer is a delight as the sarcastic, too-smart-for-his-own-good Dodge, and Schneider plays the furious, ticking time bomb to perfection. The rest of the supporting cast comes together as one, all with their own strengths, quirks and personalities, to form a team that triumphs in the face of impossible odds.
Trailer
Cmdr. Tom Dodge (Kelsey Grammer) is not thought of very highly among his fellow Navy officers. So when he's offered the captain's seat on a decrepit boat that is part of a simulated challenge on the water, no one expects much from him. Set on getting his underdog crew in line in order to win the event, Dodge must face off against his nemesis, Adm. Yancy Graham (Bruce Dern) -- who will do anything to see Dodge disgraced and finally kicked out of the Navy.
Steve Cimino: The best part is, they all look like they’re having fun. If anyone was showing up and collecting a paycheck, you can’t tell from the final product. Directed by Ward (of Major League fame) and written by Hugh Wilson (unsurprisingly, also the writer of Police Academy), it’s a throwback to an era when a comedy could make $37 million on a $31 million budget and no one would declare it a catastrophic disappointment (meaning, before the Internet). Although I’m not sure how Down Periscope cost that much goddamn money back in 1996.
David Szelowski: Dodge understands that teamwork is the road to success. His by-the-book (and overly rigid) executive officer, however, believes that the crewmembers are incompetent, and calls them "assholes." When he requests transfer because serving on the Stingray might damage his career, Dodge replies, "We are all in this mess together, mister, and you and your career are in the hands of those very assholes, including this one." This is a fine example of what should happen in real life. Observing leadership only from the top down is limiting and frequently false. More than 50 years ago, a young Lieutenant Herman Wouk proposed obtaining fitness report IL observations from the wardroom. His idea was to identify real combat leaders and to weed out the Captain Oueegs. This suggestion has resurfaced recently and should be implemented.
Dodge takes time to learn about his crew, and is able to use that information to his boat's later advantage. He finds out, for example, that his sonarman's hobby is to understand and mimic whale calls.
Ryan:Dodge’s intelligence and cunning serve him well as he deals with changes in the rules of the exercise, issued by Graham once he realizes he is losing, an attempted mutiny by Pascal (after which he makes him “walk the plank”), a leak in a main pipe as the sub reaches crush depth in one scene, and keeping the rest of his crew from blowing his chance at redemption, and hopeful promotion. As entertaining as Grammer always was as Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers and Frasier, it was enjoyable to watch him in a looser comedic role, as his well-known character from those famed television shows was often stuffy and straight-laced. Rob Schneider is actually quite funny in this movie, as is usually the case when he’s in a supporting role (his small part in Grandma’s Boy was hilarious). William H. Macy also stars as a by-the-book sub commander, and his even demeanor is hard to believe if you’ve ever seen him on Showtime’s Shameless (if you haven’t, stop reading this and go now). One revelation in the film that ends up being really funny is the fact that after a near impact with another sub years back, Dodge got drunk, passed out, and woke up with a tattoo of the words “welcome aboard” on his penis. When his superior Admiral Winslow (Rip Torn) is explaining to him the ins and outs of the war game and he recoils, Winslow screams “Damn it to hell, don’t go by the book! Think like a pirate! I want a man with a tattoo on his dick! Have I got the right man?” Dodge, vaguely ashamed, replies “By a strange coincidence you do, sir”. Another riotous scene, that’s really only that funny to me because I have a frighteningly immature sense of humor, lies in a scene in which a few of the crew switch out Lake’s uniform with a much smaller size, showing off body parts in a way unbecoming of a Naval officer. When Dodge catches wind of the prank and tries to get to the bottom of it, a series of unintended double entendres follow that make me laugh out loud, every time I watch the movie.
If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted film about a scrappy team of misfits who are thrown together to battle a more seasoned enemy, check out Down Periscope today. Everybody loves a good underdog flick, and this one is just that, and is loaded with consistent laughs, to boot. Grammer is a delight as the sarcastic, too-smart-for-his-own-good Dodge, and Schneider plays the furious, ticking time bomb to perfection. The rest of the supporting cast comes together as one, all with their own strengths, quirks and personalities, to form a team that triumphs in the face of impossible odds.
Trailer
I love that they don't play fast and loose and have the first torpedo miss or some bullshit.
I will take criticism that the love plot isn't needed, which is fair.
posted by Carillon at 9:19 PM on June 23, 2024
I will take criticism that the love plot isn't needed, which is fair.
posted by Carillon at 9:19 PM on June 23, 2024
The most accurate movie about Sailors that Hollywood has ever made.
posted by Seeba at 5:22 AM on June 24, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by Seeba at 5:22 AM on June 24, 2024 [2 favorites]
I love this movie. It looks like it's going to be just another screwball comedy, but there's actually some meat on it, and it's pretty well constructed. Yes, it's filled with childish jokes, but it's lighthearted about them, never really mean. Although that one prank with the clothing could be viewed as sexist, definitely.
There's even a bit of character growth as these weirdo misfits all come together. And some thoughtful lines too. It still stands up pretty well today.
posted by mrgoat at 10:27 AM on June 24, 2024
There's even a bit of character growth as these weirdo misfits all come together. And some thoughtful lines too. It still stands up pretty well today.
posted by mrgoat at 10:27 AM on June 24, 2024
Glad to hear it holds up-- just seeing it on Fanfare made me smile despite not having seen it in probably 10 years. Very much in the "better than it had any right to be" category of mid-90s comedy.
posted by supercres at 10:32 AM on June 24, 2024
posted by supercres at 10:32 AM on June 24, 2024
I've never seen it! Now maybe I should. But I did live in Quebec when it came out, and was thrilled to see that the French translation of the title, for no fathomable reason, was Ne Touchez Pas Periscope! (don't touch my periscope!) which sparked a lifelong fascination with French translations of English film titles.
The Fast and the Furious was Rapides et Dangereux (Quick and Dangerous), which really boned them for all the super cool titles that would come in the decades to come...
posted by Shepherd at 10:40 AM on June 24, 2024 [2 favorites]
The Fast and the Furious was Rapides et Dangereux (Quick and Dangerous), which really boned them for all the super cool titles that would come in the decades to come...
posted by Shepherd at 10:40 AM on June 24, 2024 [2 favorites]
Back when Netflix was mailing DVDs, I decided for some reason to put every submarine-centered movie I could find in my queue. This one was down low enough that I never reached it before canceling my subscription. Time to rent it from iTunes!
posted by ejs at 6:17 PM on June 24, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by ejs at 6:17 PM on June 24, 2024 [1 favorite]
It is not often a sonar battle is won by singing Louie Louie.
posted by funkaspuck at 4:32 AM on June 25, 2024
posted by funkaspuck at 4:32 AM on June 25, 2024
The bandaid was holding the fingernail on.
I enjoy this movie very much.
posted by one4themoment at 4:50 PM on June 25, 2024
I enjoy this movie very much.
posted by one4themoment at 4:50 PM on June 25, 2024
I am a person who finds Kelsey Grammer, regardless of the role he’s playing, just instantly hateable. Is this a movie I would enjoy?
posted by box at 5:53 PM on June 25, 2024
posted by box at 5:53 PM on June 25, 2024
I mean, that's a tough question. He's hated by a lot of folks in the movie, but they are generally the antagonists. I think he's in it too much that if you truly hate him, it'll be too much Grammer.
posted by Carillon at 5:59 PM on June 26, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by Carillon at 5:59 PM on June 26, 2024 [1 favorite]
This movie was a glorious romp. However it can’t be watched by anyone who takes movies seriously or it all falls apart.
posted by corb at 10:16 AM on July 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by corb at 10:16 AM on July 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
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posted by Carillon at 9:14 PM on June 23, 2024