MASH: Review By hedonismbot

Not to get into a 'me' thing but I can only try to relate my experience of watching this movie and I did not crack a smile. It was painful. I understand the classic status for its avante-garde method, but my problem is pretty basic; the characters were so loathsome I couldn't laugh at them. I could not empathize with one character in this ensemble where everyone is either a sociopath or a victim. Altman did his 'thing' with likable or interesting characters in Gosford Park which I enjoyed. You'll have to forgive me for having seen Animal House and Porky's long before seeing this collection of hijinks by people too old to be seen as immature. They just come off as sexist, racist, and good old-fashioned evil. It backfired for me as a satire of the military, it was more like mouth-foaming, bleeding heart hatred. Dr. Strangelove remains the pinnacle example of military satire. The very sad truth is that I did not laugh once. That has never happened to me with any comedy before.