Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
lost interest.
One would hope that, as a sequel to
Mister Roberts, Ensign Pulver might carry with it some of that film's wit, liveliness and appeal. Unfortunately this isn't the case -- and to make matters worse, Pulver can't even carry with it Roberts' cast. One doesn't expect
Henry Fonda to appear in the sequel, of course, but surely
Jack Lemmon should be involved, or at least
James Cagney or
William Powell? But the answer is no, no and no to these questions. Lemmon's absence is most sorely felt, for he made the part something truly special; Robert Walker Jr. gives it the old college try, but inspiration not competence is needed here.
Burl Ives is a poor substitute for Cagney, and only
Walter Matthau -- so different from Powell, but that may actually work to his favor -- manages to give a performance that is memorable. Casting would matter a little less if the screenplay were really good, but this one is a feeble mess of clichés and retreads, with little originality and no spark. (The same can be said for
Joshua Logan's direction.) There is fun in spotting the likes of
Jack Nicholson,
James Coco and
Larry Hagman in some small roles, but there's not really much here to entertain or even divert. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide