Down Periscope

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Down Periscope

PG-13

1996

1h 32m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

11%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Cmdr. Tom Dodge 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-- who will do anything to see Dodge disgraced and finally kicked out of the Navy.

Critics Consensus

Down Periscope takes audiences on an aimless voyage for aquatic hijinks, proving there really aren't any effective sub-stitutes for a well-written script.

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Bob McCabe

Empire Magazine

08/04/2009

2/5

Kelsey Grammar's transition to the big screen is far from seamless.

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Leonard Klady

Variety

11/21/2008

It's good-natured, innocuous frivolity that should raise a few smiles and generate good but not great spring box office.

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Time Out

01/26/2006

he construction is so ramshackle (or the mood so PC) that the film-makers put a woman (Holly) on board, then can't find a thing to do with her.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

10/13/2021

2/4

...a sluggish comedy that slowly-but-surely squanders its raft of appealing, seemingly foolproof elements...

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Sarah Cartland

Caution Spoilers

11/09/2018

2/5

Far from feminist, though I enjoyed seeing so many men doing the cleaning. There are fun moments and Kelsey Grammer as the hapless new sub captain is rather good if not hapless enough. Bruce Dern and Rip Torn spar enjoyably, but it lacks actual jokes.

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Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

09/09/2014

2/5

Some innuendo, profanity in mediocre slapstick comedy.

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Mitch P

@RT99167099 May 23

First off, I don't know what on earth is wrong with the "critics" who truly don't seem to "get" this movie?! What's not to love about it? It's funny, light-hearted, good ol' entertainment! Great ensemble cast of actors and comedians giving great performances. It's a spoof film and a damned good one, too! Love the characters, LOVE the submarine, love the the storyline. Cinematography I also thought was great! I bought a copy of this movie and I have watched it so many times, yet it never fails to make me laugh! I think those critics who panned this film are in urgent need of a sense of humour transplant personally! Don't go by THEIR reviews, go by the audience reviews! We ALL love this film!

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Mathis M

@RT19692289 Apr 14

a very easy film to watch, and an absolute laughter, i loved it !

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Damian G

@RT59207826 Apr 12

Ignore the ridiculous critics score here and look at that audience score. This is one of the best comedies made in the last 30 years and one of the best submarine movies ever. Yes, it's not Hunt for Red October and its premise is unlikely - WW2 diesel submarine takes on modern navy - but it's an enjoyable 93 minutes and I laughed a lot.

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James H

@RT60526674 Apr 4

Funny on day 1, still just as funny 30 years later.

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Pete T.

@petetrenum Feb 16

Painful to watch. Very few funny moments

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Matthew H

@Hendy2013 Feb 15

Absolutely hilarious a must watch

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David S. Ward

Director

Kelsey Grammer

Lt. Cmdr. Thomas "Tom" Dodge

Lauren Holly

Lt. Emily Lake, Diving Officer

Bruce Dern

RAdm. Yancy Graham

Rob Schneider

Executive Officer Martin T. "Marty" Pascal

Rip Torn

Vice Adm. Dean Winslow

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Synopsis

Cmdr. Tom Dodge 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-- who will do anything to see Dodge disgraced and finally kicked out of the Navy.

Director: David S. Ward
Producer: Robert Lawrence
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.3M
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Surround