The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming

Arkin is good and scattered moments raise a smile, but this is mostly lame, two hours of idiotic characters yelling frantically, building to a pretty lousy final act.

Comedy based on panicky idiots isn't my thing, and that's what half this movie is. It's a good premise for a movie, but if the point is to promote peace and I'm wanting half these people to get shot then something's not working. The ending is somehow worse than all the whiny panic.

Despite lame beginning/ending, it is great satire about Americans and their paranoiac stereotypes. Also thumbs up for A.Arkin.

Normally mass-hysteria pisses me off but I was able to ignore that and enjoy the ride. A funny, fantastic ride. Arkin was awesome.

The kind of movie that makes you smirk several times throughout it, but it's never hilarious. Some subtlety probably would have benefited the story too, but the over-the-top and obvious style of humor is expected from this era of film. Alan Arkin is terrific, but I do not care for Carl Reiner's character or the slap-sticky scenes at all. Points for the boldness of releasing a movie like this during the Cold War that lampoons hysteria, but ultimately Dr. Strangelove did it better.

Os russos estão chegando estreava há 55 anos nos EUA .Uma das sátiras icônicas da Guerra Fria, é a estreia oficial do Alan Arkin no cinema, não sei vocês, mas eu amo demais o Alan Arkin. Hoje pode parecer um filme muito apegado ao contexto histórico do momento e nesse sentido ele o foi espetacular por não vilanizar os russos e trabalhar muito mais com a comicidade da paranoia, mas acho que ele peca pela duração, 125 minutos para uma comédia é muito tempo. DVD Obras-primas do Cinema.

Viewed December 8, 2020.

A bit heavy-headed (and a few minutes too long) but still hilarious and relevant.

Uneven but often a lot of fun. "E-MER-gency! Everybody to get from street!"

This Cold War comedy got a Best Picture nomination some 45 years ago, and while the basic message remains relevant, if hamfisted, the film's overlength and unevenness prove much bigger obstacles. When it satirizes mass hysteria, it's hilarious (Paul Ford is gold), and Alan Arkin underplays the frustrated Rozanov nicely. In fact, the acting as a whole is fine, but the script has a few too many dry spots, and Norman Jewison's direction doesn't compensate for them. Witty score by Johnny Mandel.

13 years before "1941", they made the same story funnier, and added an upbeat ending.

Overall a lovely comedy. The wonderful Alan Arkin steals the show.

Arkin is hilarious--a constant hoot throughout. "Everybody on this island is crazy!" And the ending never fails to make me tear up. Sure it's a bit schmaltzy, but--its heart was definitely in the right place.

Hilarious. Alan Arkin and Carl Reiner at their funniest.

A really good comedy about paranoia in cold war and it has also got Alan Arkin's great breakthrough performance as the Soviet lieutenant .

Good film.