To keep the loyalty of a village during the Vietnam war, a U.S. Army officer and his unit struggle to deliver it a live elephant. During the Vietnam War, a village that American forces are using to spy on the Ho Chi Minh Trail has its sacred elephant killed by the North Vietnamese Army because they were cooperating with the Americans. The villagers need an elephant for a ceremony that will occur within the week. Captain Sam Cahill, an easygoing man who is heading home, and his hotheaded replacement Captain TC Doyle scrounge up another elephant with the help of sneaky supply chief warrant officer David Poole, luckless farmboy Lawrence Farley, and short-timer Harvey Ashford, and transport it across South Vietnam to get it to the village on time, running into all sorts of transport problems, personality conflicts, and an NVA squad that wants the Americans out of the village. Released in 1995, "Operation Dumbo Drop" is a Disney flick inspired by the real story of the US Army supplying an elephant for a village during the Vietnam War. Danny Glover and Ray Liotta star as the two officers in charge of the mission assisted by Denis Leary, Doug E. Doug and Corin Nemec. Dinh Thien Le appears as the boy, Linh, companion of the elephant Bo Tat.<br/><br/>An NCO indirectly linked to the real operation said the movie was much more interesting and fun than the actual event as the mission was pulled off without a hitch with little entertainment value. Being a Disney flick, the combat situations are "Yeah, right" and no one gets hurt, but that's to be expected. Other than this, it's a straight forward dramedy/adventure.<br/><br/>While I'm generally not into Disney flicks, it's nice to see a more positive side of the war after watching movies like "We Were Soldiers," "Platoon" and "A Rumor of War." Believe it or not, there WERE fun, comedic and altruistic occasions over there, every day. Many good Americans perished directly attempting to prevent harm to Vietnamese people. Many risked their lives not in combat, but in aiding civilian villagers in tasks they could not accomplish themselves. Many worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the Vietnamese, providing food, cooking utensils, clothing and other necessities to those displaced by the conflict. Yes, I realize you could argue that they wouldn't be in such a predicament if there was no war, but don't forget that, generally speaking, the South Vietnamese didn't want communistic rule and the conquest-minded NVA were no angels. Look no further than the incredible killing fields of Cambodia.<br/><br/>I love elephants, so I also appreciate this element. What's most enjoyable, besides the great cast, are the exceptional Thailand locations. Although there are a few eye-rolling parts, like all Disney movies, a lot was put into making this film. It's a fun adventure reminiscent of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." Unfortunately, there are no key female parts and the "Yeah, right" moments are too painful to give a higher rating.<br/><br/>The movie runs 107 minutes.<br/><br/>GRADE: C+ or B- (5.5/10) It's 1968 Vietnam. Capt. T.C. Doyle (Ray Liotta) arrives in a Montagnard village to meet up with Capt. Sam Cahill (Danny Glover) who has been cultivating relationship with the locals. They are in NVA territory monitoring the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The kids steal Doyle's candy bar which is later discovered by the NVA commander. In retaliation, he kills the village's only elephant. Cahill promises to replace the elephant before an upcoming festival. Doyle is unconvinced. They recruit scheming supply officer David Poole (Denis Leary), short-timer Harvey Ashford (Doug E. Doug), and Lawrence Farley (Corin Nemec). They buy the elephant Bo Tat along with his handler Linh who lost his father in the war.<br/><br/>It is such an odd tone. This is one of the few Vietnam war movies where fighting happens but nobody ever dies on screen. It tries to be funny but the odd sensibility strips it of its humor. All the elephant vomit and suppositories are not funny when there is an expectation of death and the movie avoids death like the plague. The whole tone is weirdly family-friendly but it could never be a kiddie movie. I wonder if Disney expects little kids to go see this movie for Dumbo. The whole thing is a bit off-putting.
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