Mel works out his angst again

In so many of his films, Mel is working out his
angst about this era of alleged "lost masculinities."
This film is perhaps the most emblematic of the bunch,
since it features an upright, heroic, paternalistic male
both metaphorically and literally frozen in time, who
compares very favorably with his weak, characterless
contemporaries.

After awhile, this becomes quite a bore to the alert female
moviegoer, who has to content herself with gazing at
Mel's pretty face for two hours.

Not the worst way to pass the time, but not the best either.