Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: July 28, 1995 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
48
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
11
Negative:
3
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
75
Chicago TribuneGary Dretzka
The movie makes a worthwhile attempt to break down some thick emotional walls and, at the same time, tell a good story. That it is mostly successful in providing more than a few solid laughs and smiles--in what, after all, is a war picture--says a great deal. [28 Jul 1995, p.H]
75
St. Louis Post-DispatchDeborah Peterson
Under Wincer's intelligent direction it is a feel-good family adventure pitting man's bravery and humanity against the vicissitudes of nature and the inhumanity of war. [28 Jul 1995, p.3E]
70
Under Simon Wincer's brisk, efficient direction, Glover, Liotta, Leary, et al., give the kind of full-bodied portrayals essential to making basically formulaic material come alive. [28 Jul 1995, p.F14]
63
The Associated PressPatricia Bibby
Director Simon Wincer, who made the first Free Willy, knows a thing or two about gigantic mammals that fly through the air, and he does a nice job here. If only his editing team had been more ruthless in trimming from the film's second half. [27 Jul 1995]
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Val Ross
Operation Dumbo Drop is at times lost on four-year-olds, but it serves up what Disney summer flicks should - adrenalin and sugar. [28 Jul 1995]
63
The movie just gets by on heart and a conversation-stopping finale. [28 Jul 1995, p.5D]
50
Baltimore SunChris Kridler
At one point, Liotta's character complains that he has ended up "in an episode of 'McHale's Navy.' " That's not too far off. If a sitcom is all you really want out of Operation Dumbo Drop, by all means, put on a parachute and jump. [28 Jul 1995]
50
Presented as a Vietnam War comedy, Operation Dumbo Drop steadfastly refuses to be funny. [28 Jul 1995, p.D3]
50
Operation Dumbo Drop has the lumbering pace of a pachyderm. [28 Jul 1995, p.8]
50
Miami HeraldJackie Potts
Disney is trumpeting that Operation Dumbo Drop is "inspired" by a true event. In fact, it is loosely based on a short story by a former Green Beret. But it still doesn't fly. [28 Jul 1995, p.7G]
50
It's an awkward mix, and Simon Wincer, a director with considerable experience in animal movies, can't make the ingredients work consistently. [28 Jul 1995, p.14]
40
The Hollywood ReporterDavid Hunter
Most of the performances range from adequate to uninspired. Leary's talents are largely misused, while Doug E. Doug (Cool Runnings) as a superstitious short-timer rises above the pack. [28 Jul 1995]