"The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming" was a timely Cold War paranoia tale that now works best in the scenes where russian and american characters interacting. The humanity, mutual fear, and appreciation lead to some fun and insightful moments. Alan Arkin is particularly effective.
Stretching this out are scenes of townspeople interacting with each other and setting off hysteria over the smallest thing, irrationally and too impulsively after merely an incomplete sentence, even as little as someone's first three words. Conceptually it is funny and still relevant to current events. In practice it only gets the occasional laugh as it mostly goes for cheap clowning around in generic campy 60s comedy. All the usual country hicks and eccentric senior citizens. The 60s produced some of the funniest comedies ever, that still produce laughs from the new generations. It also produced many lazy ones with childish material that would barely get a chuckle at a toddler's playdate. This Oscar nominated movie often veers towards the latter humor.
When I was ready to give up, however, "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming" was saved by its final act, taking unexpected turns.
Stretching this out are scenes of townspeople interacting with each other and setting off hysteria over the smallest thing, irrationally and too impulsively after merely an incomplete sentence, even as little as someone's first three words. Conceptually it is funny and still relevant to current events. In practice it only gets the occasional laugh as it mostly goes for cheap clowning around in generic campy 60s comedy. All the usual country hicks and eccentric senior citizens. The 60s produced some of the funniest comedies ever, that still produce laughs from the new generations. It also produced many lazy ones with childish material that would barely get a chuckle at a toddler's playdate. This Oscar nominated movie often veers towards the latter humor.
When I was ready to give up, however, "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming" was saved by its final act, taking unexpected turns.