There are women in the film, but none has anything you could call a personality.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

This movie is well over 20 years old and it still makes me laugh. Kelsey is hilarious and witty, and the cast keeps up with him very well. See it, you won't be disappointed.

This Is A Film That Takes A Whack At All Submarine Movies, This Is Also The Only Submarine Movie I Will Watch With The Exception Of Das Boot(Don't Think That They Are Related Movies In Any Way, Shape Or Form).The Best Performance Is From Either Rob Schnider Or Kelsey Grammar, Both Were Absolutely Hysterical, Schnider Garuanteed Is A Good Performance In This Whether Your A Fan Of Him Or Not.The Tattoo On Kelsey Grammar's Penis In This Film Is By Far One Of The Best Ongoing Jokes In Cinematic History (In My Opinion) Its Funny At The End When Lauren Holly Asks "Whats This Tattoo Business I've Been Hearing About?" And He Replies "Well Its A LONG Story..." That Always Cracks Me Up.Overall I Highly Recommend This Film To A Fan Of Dumb Humour.

Kelsey Grammar is Navy Lt. Cmdr. 'Tom' Dodge. He has been an officer for 20 years and time is running out for him to get his own ship. He expects to get a modern nuclear submarine. But two high level officers have a difference of opinion, and compromise. They will give Dodge an old, WW2 era diesel sub to command, with a makeshift crew of misfits, and let him be the aggressor in Virginia war games. If he succeeds in getting past the best defense the Navy has to offer, he will get a modern sub.With the deck strongly stacked against him, Dodge has to use his considerable ingenuity to accomplish the tasks. Cute Lauren Holly in her prime is Lt. Emily Lake, Diving Officer, who only has experience in simulators and and to learn to function in the real world of underwater. Rob Schneider is the ultra gung-ho Executive Officer Martin T. 'Marty' Pascal. Harry Dean Stanton is CPO Howard, Chief Engineer. Bruce Dern is RAdm. Yancy Graham who is against Dodge getting a command. William H. Macy is Cmdr. Carl Knox (Orlando) who is in the nuclear sub trying to thwart Dodge in the war game exercise. And Rip Torn is Vice Adm. Dean Winslow, who is on Dadge's side.The movie is not high art by any means, but Grammar is in good form, as are the other actors, and it is entertaining to see how the good guys work to come out on top.

i bought both this movie and McHale's Navy cheap at the same time.i thought McHale's navy was pretty much a disaster.it's supposed to be funny,but i didn't think so.Down Periscope is in a similar vein,but is actually fairly funny at times.it's not great,but i did laugh on occasion.Kelsey Grammar is the main star.Lauren Holly,Bruce Dern,William H.Macy,Harland Williams,and Rip Torn also star,among others.even Rob Schneider has a role,but he is actually funny here.of course,he isn't the main character so that helps.along with some laughs,there's also a bit of action and excitement.in the end the movie turns out pretty decent.my vote for Down Periscope is a 6/10