Two Men Went to War [2002]

It's a lovely story: beautifully written and wonderfully acted, it's funny and moving, and it's also the type of story that generates a warm-hearted sort of pride. Two very ordinary, absurd, English heroes, sick of making dentures, determined to join the fight; they break the rules, take ridiculous risks, seem at times bumblingly inefficient - but they succeed! Churchill, who was having a very difficult time at this point in the war, was considerably cheered by the mad-cap but morale boosting endeavour.


The spirit needed to win   February 22, 2004
Sally-Anne (Leicestershire, United Kingdom)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

This film is based on a true story, that one of the two writers (Richard Everett) read in a book, "The Amateur Commandos" by Raymond Foxall, in Godalming Library. It is about two army dentists who had repeatedly applied for active service in WWII and had repeatedly had their requests turned down. Finally, the older man, Sergeant King decides he and Private Cuthbertson will send an explanatory letter to Churchill together with their army pay books, then they will take a train to Plymouth and cross the channel to occupied France where they will blow up some German ships. They don't find any ships to blow up but they do find wires to cut, railway lines to blow up and a radar station to attack. When they run out of hand grenades, they make their way back home, well satisfied with a job well done.

It's a lovely story: beautifully written and wonderfully acted, it's funny and moving, and it's also the type of story that generates a warm-hearted sort of pride. Two very ordinary, absurd, English heroes, sick of making dentures, determined to join the fight; they break the rules, take ridiculous risks, seem at times bumblingly inefficient - but they succeed! Churchill, who was having a very difficult time at this point in the war, was considerably cheered by the mad-cap but morale boosting endeavour.


a fabulous film   September 2, 2003
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This is simply the best film that I have seen in a long long time, proper film making with a plot rather than a hollow string of special effects like most recent films seem to be. It's hard to believe that Two Men Went Two War wasn't shown more widely in the cinemas, as it deserves to have been a general release. A rare war film in that it's enjoyable by everyone and isn't just for those who like explosions. The characters' story draws you in and there's true comedy throughout, even when things are going wrong for the pair of unlikely heroes, with lots of laugh out loud moments. In brief, two military dentists, one considered past it and the other a bit dim, get tired of making dentures so they pack a bag full of grenades and buns, "requisition" a boat and invade France to "do their bit" in style. This is the war in a way you've never seen it before...


Great British Yarn   September 10, 2003
Bob Jenkins (Telford, Shropshire)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This film is supposedly based on a true story - and in fact it's so far-fetched that it has to be true. Set during world war two, it tells the amusing tale of an old sergeant and a young recruit, both of whom are mustard keen to 'do their bit', but find themselves trapped within the Dental Corps. Having written to Winston Churchill to explain their intentions, the old Sergeant then takes his ardent young colleague over to France for a bit of 'derring do'. To say more would spoil the film, but I thoroughly enjoyed it for its humour and its 'feelgood' factor.


Good film, well worth watching   April 24, 2004
9 out of 12 found this review helpful

I hadnt heard about this film when it was out at the cinema, I picked itup by chance at the video shop.
I liked it so much I bought the DVD.Its a well acted, funny, character driven film about 2 very unsual people.
If you get the chance watch it.