Drama
1942 / 109 minutes
Rating: 6/10

When the US entered World War II in December of ’41, they needed every ship they could get their hands on – if it floated, they wanted it – and that meant even some World War I relics were being recommissioned. But how would the last generation’s ships fare against the Japanese’s new generation of ships? Well, as Stand by for Action tells us, it’ll depend on the crew, won’t it?

When a crusty Admiral needs someone to helm the Warren, a refurbished World War I destroyer, he pairs a Harvard-educated, smart but snooty, executive officer Lieutenant Greg Masterman, with a captain that made his way up through the ranks the hard way, Commander Martin Roberts. This odd-couple shouldn’t get along, but with the crew’s safety and their mission’s success foremost for both, this like-mindedness makes them an effective leadership team.

Stand by for Action starts slow – which is the reason it rates a 6, rather than a 7 – but from midway on, when the film takes a quirky turn after the Warren rescue a lifeboat full of 20 babies – it’s fantastic fun. Big gruff sailors looking after babies might not be realistic, and neither is the fact that no one on our side dies. But both make this one of the most family-friendly war films you’ll find. That beginning will test the kids’ patience – too much so if they’ve grown up watching frenetic cartoons and video-game-inspired movies – but if they make it to the babies, they’ll love this.