Two Men Went to War (2004)

63% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(949 ratings)

A pair of dentists deal their own unique blow against the Third Reich in this low-key British comedy, which is actually based on a true story. In 1942, war rages all through Europe as Nazi Germany has taken France, attacked London, and defeated British forces at Dunkirk. In the midst of this chaos,… More A pair of dentists deal their own unique blow against the Third Reich in this low-key British comedy, which is actually based on a true story. In 1942, war rages all through Europe as Nazi Germany has taken France, attacked London, and defeated British forces at Dunkirk. In the midst of this chaos, Sgt. Peter King (Kenneth Cranham) and Pvt. Leslie Cuthbertson (Leo Bill) are serving in the village of Aldershot as part of the Royal Army Dental Corps, whose motto is "An Army Who Can't Bite, Can't Fight!" Eager to do more than fill cavities or pull wisdom teeth as the fate of Great Britain hangs in the balance, Sgt. King hatches a mad scheme to leave his post, make his way across the English Channel, and launch his own miniature invasion of France. Logically assuming that some assistance would be a good idea, he persuades Pvt. Cuthbertson to join him, and armed with ten grenades, a pair of pistols, and 20 bullets, they set out to take on the Vichy troops all by themselves. Derek Jacobi and Rosanna Lavelle highlight the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: John Henderson
Written By: Richard Everett, Christopher Villiers
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 12, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Jan 10, 2006
Studio: Indican Pictures

Critic Reviews

Vic Vogler, Denver Post
Endearing little film.
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
As straightforward as its title, delivering exactly what you would expect: a pleasant bit of stiff-upper-lip nostalgia with a touch of whimsy.
Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News
The mission, which the soldiers codenamed Operation Mad Dog, would have been delicious as a documentary, but director John Henderson goes for an antic Two Stooges Abroad approach.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
Wait for Two Men Went to War to go to the small screen.
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News
A very amiable comedy.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
John Henderson's gentle World War II comedy dilutes its soft-bellied sentiment with a steady infusion of whimsy.
Lewis Beale, Film Journal International
Winds up as a charming little entertainment about two lovable, albeit misguided, patriots.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
An enjoyable, amusing and unpretentious film about a couple of English eccentrics - dentists whose eccentricity is not evident until their actions gave them away.
M.E. Russell, Oregonian
Well worth an evening invasion of the art house.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
A mish-mashed historical drama sunk by its flattened tone... on the one hand clamorous and eventful but ultimately also quite tedious and tiresome.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
Henderson's warm and toasty little gem of a film, slight though it may be, reminds you that the Greatest Generation, full of vim, vigor, and -- most important -- an indefatigable sense of purpose, grew up on both sides of the Big Pond.
, E! Online
A simple dose of nostalgia like this goes down easily.
Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly
More often than not, Two Men Went to War resembles a feature-length episode of Hogan's Heroes.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Here's something you wouldn't have thought possible after the gory realism of "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Thin Red Line": a sweet, whimsical little World War II film.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
A curiously feeble wartime comedy...to be filed under the heading of 'Might Have Beens.'
Timothy Knight, Reel.com
An understated charmer inspired by true events.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
A delightful little comedy told with a great deal of warmth and charm. It's a unique kind of war story that may not win the war, but has no trouble winning over the audience.
Kent Turner, Film-Forward.com
Far from an anti-war film, Two Men is more in line with In Which We Serve (1942) than Oh! What a Lovely War (1969).
Kim Williamson, Boxoffice Magazine
The film -- although slight -- works wonderfully.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Cassandra M

What an unexpected delight is this true-ish wartime tale of two army dentists determined to do something for the war effort. A grizzled WW1 Sergeant and callow private go AWOL, heading for Cornwall and then to France armed with a rucksack of grenades, a couple of pistols and the odd… More
What an unexpected delight is this true-ish wartime tale of two army dentists determined to do something for the war effort. A grizzled WW1 Sergeant and callow private go AWOL, heading for Cornwall and then to France armed with a rucksack of grenades, a couple of pistols and the odd dental tool. Possessing a comic lightness of touch rarely seen in Britain since the halcyon days of the Ealing comedies, this wonderful tale of British eccentricity is hilariously funny mainly because it never goes for the obvious laugh. Realisitic enough that the adventure is frequently nerve-wracking, with a splendid plot that constantly wrongfoots your guesses, the mismatched comic pair of Kenneth Cranham and Leo Bill work brilliantly. Filmed in vibrant colours so rarely seen in a British film, the movie succeeds way beyond its modest ambitions. It's the rare sort of film that banishes the blues and puts you in a good mood that lasts for ages afterwards. What more can you ask from a film than that?