Down Periscope

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Down Periscope

PG-13

1996

1h 32m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

11%

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35 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Cmdr. Tom Dodge (Kelsey Grammer) 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 (Bruce Dern) -- who will do anything to see Dodge disgraced and finally kicked out of the Navy.

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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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Hristiyan G

Oct 1

Cinema fr - Martin Scorsese

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Aug 4

Funny in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $23,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Eric S.

@Tigers-Movies24 Jul 9

A great funny film even as an adult even the fart scene is still funny . But nothing beats the whale scene

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George L

Jun 7

One of the funniest silly movies I've ever seen. On par with actual parodies in terms of the scope of the jokes. All star cast that couldn't have performed better. Definitely one of my movies of all time, #1 easiest recommended comedy

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Rotten M

May 31

Critics sank Down Periscope before it ever had a chance to surface, but let’s be honest—they missed the point. This isn’t high art, it’s low-stakes comedy done right. Kelsey Grammer leads a ragtag crew with perfect deadpan delivery, and the laughs hit like sonar pings. Not every film needs to be profound to be rewatchable—and this one’s a cult classic in disguise. Critics may not salute it, but fans know: Down Periscope is full-steam fun.

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Jack B

May 26

If you've spent 27 years in the Navy it is a much better movie than if you have no military experience. My wife spent years at ComSubFlt and she thought it was great.

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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 (Kelsey Grammer) 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 (Bruce Dern) -- 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

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