If you can ignore the dopey ending, the movie has some very nice surprises best of which is the incredible performance of GD Spradlin as the sheriff. This may be a lightweight movie but he does not throw away his role. He's genuinely scary and believable as the tyrannical sheriff. Jenilee Harrison is also at her most sexy in 1984. She was a mouthwatering beauty back then! The film rolls along pretty blandly but the scenes with C. Thomas Howell getting framed are pretty well done and plausible. If you can get over the guy owning his own Sherman tank, the decision to use it makes at least some sense by that point in the movie.
33 Reviews
I enjoyed it
marzolian16 March 2004
I didn't see this when it came out, so when it appeared on cable late one night I didn't expect very much. But it exceeded my expectations. It's the story of an honorable man who is pushed too far.
Yes, there are some stretches of the imagination to be made. For example, with all the gunfire, I don't remember anybody getting killed or seriously wounded. The good guys are too good and the bad guys are too bad.
But I enjoyed a few scenes a great deal. For one, the portrayal of the small town, that seems idyllic at first but is rotten to the core. I especially appreciated the scenes between Sgt. Carey and his son, the way that the military was shown pulling together as a family, and the others who help the group trying to get to the state line. These were all people that I wanted to cheer for.
Yes, there are some stretches of the imagination to be made. For example, with all the gunfire, I don't remember anybody getting killed or seriously wounded. The good guys are too good and the bad guys are too bad.
But I enjoyed a few scenes a great deal. For one, the portrayal of the small town, that seems idyllic at first but is rotten to the core. I especially appreciated the scenes between Sgt. Carey and his son, the way that the military was shown pulling together as a family, and the others who help the group trying to get to the state line. These were all people that I wanted to cheer for.
A fun Movie
bgarry99927 March 2005
This is an old fashion good vs. evil movie that is fun. Movies don't always have to have some heavy deep plot. Sometimes it's great to watch a movie that is fun that you can cheer, and this is one of them. It's now over 20 years old, but it still holds up as a fun movies to watch and enjoy.
A big surprise will be to many is to see James Cormwell playing a simple deputy sheriff, and what Command Sergeant Major Carey does to him.
James Gardner, as always, carries the film very well. He is a very believable CSM, and Shirley Jones has a military wife down pat. A young C. Thomas Howell does a good job too as a military son. G.D. Spradlin plays the very mean Sheriff that is very easy to hate. And Jenilee Harrison did this movie at the same time she began a two year run on Dallas, and she looks great in this movie. The whole cast together works great for this movie, and it's great for the whole family.
A big surprise will be to many is to see James Cormwell playing a simple deputy sheriff, and what Command Sergeant Major Carey does to him.
James Gardner, as always, carries the film very well. He is a very believable CSM, and Shirley Jones has a military wife down pat. A young C. Thomas Howell does a good job too as a military son. G.D. Spradlin plays the very mean Sheriff that is very easy to hate. And Jenilee Harrison did this movie at the same time she began a two year run on Dallas, and she looks great in this movie. The whole cast together works great for this movie, and it's great for the whole family.
Inspirational film; changed my life.
aphelocoma15 February 2003
Tank has been an inspiration in my life. Its rich plot is rife with moral dilemmas, all of which end in ethical resolutions. Zack (James Garner) is the epitome of all that is good and right in the universe, and he wins in the end like good should. While I usually watch the film for its moral content, sometimes I find myself fast- forwarding to scene eleven, which features james cromwell naked, chained to a phone pole.
Ten stars. This film has changed my life.
Ten stars. This film has changed my life.
Watch a tank run over the officials of a corrupt southern town.
Aaron137513 December 2009
I enjoyed this movie, by the looks of the score I am a bit alone in my opinion of this film. The story has a guy in the army who somehow owns his own personal tank moving onto a new army base. I am rather sure they probably explained how he had his own tank, but it has been awhile since I last saw this film so I do not remember parts of it all that well. What I do know is that one evening James Garner's character (the one with the tank) goes into town and ends up taking out a deputy. This infuriates the sheriff of the town and he wants revenge. He seems to have some problem with the military folk and it is against the law to punch a cop even one who deserves it. Of course, this part of the film makes little sense to me, usually a southern town like the one depicted here would embrace the military and be patriotic even bashing the lawman for bruising the army guys hand or something. Same strange hatred of the military appeared in the film "First Blood". Most of these bases also offer jobs to the locals and provide income as a lot of military guys have a lot of money to spend on frivolous things. That aside the sheriff gets his hands on the army guy's son and now the army guy is ticked, so ticked he uses his tank to break his son out of a boot camp style prison. A cross state chase soon occurs as they know they will not get a fair trail where they are so they head to either the next county or state, do not recall which. Some good humor to follow along with some good action. The movie gets a bit to heavy handed near the end and the thing with the dad getting his ribs broke was a bit to much, but all in all I found this movie quite enjoyable.
Rolling out justice.
lost-in-limbo1 May 2010
Destruction! By tank. Revenge! By tank. Sadistic southern sheriff
yep let's roll over him with a tank! James Garner plays Commander Sgt. Maj. Zack Carey who moves to an army base with his wife and son in the south, but gets on the wrong side of the local sheriff when he knocks out the deputy in bar quarrel. Too proud to let it slide they want payback, so they frame his son with a drug charge and imprison him. Carey would now do it the sheriff's way to get his son out of prison, but circumstances change when that isn't followed leaving his son to be convicted serving three years. So Carey gets in his own prized Sherman tank to bust out his son while heading for the state border in search for actual justice.
Ludicrous, but amusingly dreamt-up boot-kicking patriotic nonsense of standing up. What starts off quite serious (where I thought it might culminate in pushing "Rambo: First Blood" territory), ended up as chaotically gung-ho and comedic in a very mechanical, but spirited sense. Relatively well-made with spacious cinematography and an upbeat music score contributed by Lalo Schifrin. Material-wise the wit is there, but it's a little deeper in its perspective themes, in which it really does moralise its intentions --- as what eventuates is a tug of war involving sappy dialogues and silly humour. The early sequences build some intense confrontations -- where Garner and Spradlin's authority figures go at it each other in their own personal war. But soon that is all forgotten when Garner goes for a pleasant ride with his tank and ends up on sort of a road trip with what seems like all of America are riding the heroic underdog home. Go you good thing! One thing that's for sure is that in one sequence Jenilee Harrison looks good behind the tank's machine gun. An excellent Garner is suitably likable and G.D. Spradlin nails down his bastard role as Sheriff Cyrus Buelton. Also there's a very good support cast lined-up with Shirley Jones, Dorian Harewood, James Cromwell, C. Thomas Howell and John Hancock.
Ludicrous, but amusingly dreamt-up boot-kicking patriotic nonsense of standing up. What starts off quite serious (where I thought it might culminate in pushing "Rambo: First Blood" territory), ended up as chaotically gung-ho and comedic in a very mechanical, but spirited sense. Relatively well-made with spacious cinematography and an upbeat music score contributed by Lalo Schifrin. Material-wise the wit is there, but it's a little deeper in its perspective themes, in which it really does moralise its intentions --- as what eventuates is a tug of war involving sappy dialogues and silly humour. The early sequences build some intense confrontations -- where Garner and Spradlin's authority figures go at it each other in their own personal war. But soon that is all forgotten when Garner goes for a pleasant ride with his tank and ends up on sort of a road trip with what seems like all of America are riding the heroic underdog home. Go you good thing! One thing that's for sure is that in one sequence Jenilee Harrison looks good behind the tank's machine gun. An excellent Garner is suitably likable and G.D. Spradlin nails down his bastard role as Sheriff Cyrus Buelton. Also there's a very good support cast lined-up with Shirley Jones, Dorian Harewood, James Cromwell, C. Thomas Howell and John Hancock.
This movie Tanked!
angelsunchained15 September 2018
Sorry, but this film stunk. No real rym or reason. Bigotry like it was the early 1960s, not the 1980s. G.D. over acts as usual as the psycho bigot sheriff. The whole plot is ridiculous. Lots of un-needed sadistic scenes like the brutal spanking of a prostitute, the savage beating of a young child and a stupid scene regarding apple cobbler. Wasted talent in a wasted unentertaining movie.
An entertaining mixed bag for the mature
SimonJack6 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The billing for "Tank" is right on the mark. It is an action, drama and comedy film, with some serious overtones. Although rated PG, it's most appropriate for mature adults. In other words, those who don't get too much glee out of the treatment of prisoners on the county work farm, and those who think the allusions and references to being beaten to death, gang-raped and killed are really that funny. It's not for kids at all – with just enough nudity, foul language and discussion of prostitution, adultery, etc. to go along with the violent aspects.
The film also is a look at Army life during peacetime. The film came out in 1984, so it takes place around then. Sgt. Maj. Zack Carey (James Garner) has been in the Army 30 years. Both he and Maj. Gen. Hubik (Sandy Ward) have rows of ribbons on their chest. Both also have senior parachutist badges and Ranger patches, as well as Combat Infantry Badges (CIB). They would have entered the service after Korea and probably had considerable combat time in Vietnam. Zack appears to have nine hash marks on his sleeve – which would represent four and one- half years in combat zones.
The IMDb film summary describes the plot in enough detail. The cast are all very good in their parts. Besides those mentioned above, Shirley Jones is good as Zack's'wife, LaDonna; C. Thoms Howell if very good as son, Billy; Jenilee Harrison as the local hooker, Sarah; James Cromwell is the doormat and abusive deputy Euclid; Dorian Harewood is very good as Sgt. Tippett; and G.D. Spradlin is excellent as Sheriff Buelton.
"Tank" seems to have capitalized on the popularity of the long- running TV series, "The Dukes of Hazzard," which was set in the South. This film has more bite and sarcasm about the corrupt and dictatorial local law found in some places, but it is a lot of fun for mature audiences. We root for Sgt. Major Zack as he demolishes Sheriff Buelton's office and jail and makes his escape across the northern Georgia county to the Tennessee state line. The film takes pokes at the military and local southern communities that host military bases – mostly the latter. It jabs Bible-thumping law enforcement and hypocrites, especially those often characterized as being in the South.
The setting for the film is a fictitious Army base, Fort Clemmons. It's located in Georgia, supposedly in the NW not far from the Tennessee border. Anyone familiar with that part of the country would know how hilly and high it can get. That's at the end of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the borders of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee. The opening scene shows vehicles driving through flat tree-covered country. That's the type of country around Ft. Benning, GA, much further south, which is also where most of the Army base scenes were shot.
Ft. Benning has been the home of the U.S. Infantry since 1918, and has several specialty training centers and schools there. Among them are the Airborne (parachutist) and Ranger schools, Officer Candidate School (OCS), the Infantry school and others. Since 2005, it has been home of the Armor School, which moved from Fort Knox, KY. And, since that year, Ft. Benning has been designated the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence. The film shows the 114th Infantry Division at the fictitious base. There hasn't been such a division in the U.S. Army, although there has been a 114th Inf. Regiment
Military families, those with such backgrounds and anyone interested in the military and war films should enjoy this film.
The film also is a look at Army life during peacetime. The film came out in 1984, so it takes place around then. Sgt. Maj. Zack Carey (James Garner) has been in the Army 30 years. Both he and Maj. Gen. Hubik (Sandy Ward) have rows of ribbons on their chest. Both also have senior parachutist badges and Ranger patches, as well as Combat Infantry Badges (CIB). They would have entered the service after Korea and probably had considerable combat time in Vietnam. Zack appears to have nine hash marks on his sleeve – which would represent four and one- half years in combat zones.
The IMDb film summary describes the plot in enough detail. The cast are all very good in their parts. Besides those mentioned above, Shirley Jones is good as Zack's'wife, LaDonna; C. Thoms Howell if very good as son, Billy; Jenilee Harrison as the local hooker, Sarah; James Cromwell is the doormat and abusive deputy Euclid; Dorian Harewood is very good as Sgt. Tippett; and G.D. Spradlin is excellent as Sheriff Buelton.
"Tank" seems to have capitalized on the popularity of the long- running TV series, "The Dukes of Hazzard," which was set in the South. This film has more bite and sarcasm about the corrupt and dictatorial local law found in some places, but it is a lot of fun for mature audiences. We root for Sgt. Major Zack as he demolishes Sheriff Buelton's office and jail and makes his escape across the northern Georgia county to the Tennessee state line. The film takes pokes at the military and local southern communities that host military bases – mostly the latter. It jabs Bible-thumping law enforcement and hypocrites, especially those often characterized as being in the South.
The setting for the film is a fictitious Army base, Fort Clemmons. It's located in Georgia, supposedly in the NW not far from the Tennessee border. Anyone familiar with that part of the country would know how hilly and high it can get. That's at the end of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the borders of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee. The opening scene shows vehicles driving through flat tree-covered country. That's the type of country around Ft. Benning, GA, much further south, which is also where most of the Army base scenes were shot.
Ft. Benning has been the home of the U.S. Infantry since 1918, and has several specialty training centers and schools there. Among them are the Airborne (parachutist) and Ranger schools, Officer Candidate School (OCS), the Infantry school and others. Since 2005, it has been home of the Armor School, which moved from Fort Knox, KY. And, since that year, Ft. Benning has been designated the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence. The film shows the 114th Infantry Division at the fictitious base. There hasn't been such a division in the U.S. Army, although there has been a 114th Inf. Regiment
Military families, those with such backgrounds and anyone interested in the military and war films should enjoy this film.
good start, but falls apart
stevea8-113 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
It's as though they switched genres in the middle of the movie from drama to comedy. There's a good beginning building Zack as a tough as nails Master Sargent who is a stand up guy. Standing up for what's right in a corrupt town, including the Mayor and Police, gets him into trouble with the locals. When the mayor finds he can't touch Zack, he goes after his son, sending him to a brutal work camp on trumped up drug charges. Zack goes off in his tank to free his son and somewhere after the breakout the movie falls apart. Prior to this point, it seems there was no attempt to get a laugh, now, every cliché in the book is worked in at the cost of any pretense of seriousness
Serious, Funny, Silly
Resurgum23 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Sergeant Major Zack Carey is in a local bar when a corrupt Deputy Sheriff starts slapping around a prostitute. The Sergeant comes to her defense and ends up beating up the deputy. The Sheriff sees this as a reflection on him and attempts to persecute Carey. When Carey stands up to the Sheriff, the Sheriff plants drugs on Carey's son and tells Carey he will send his son to a prison camp if the Sergeant Major does not give him a large sum of money in a payoff. Sergeant Carey pays him off, but the Sheriff reneges, takes the money and sends the Sergeant's son to the prison camp. The Sheriff also hints that Carey's son will be raped in the camp. The Sergeant Major has had enough and takes off in his restored Sherman Tank in order to break his son out of the camp and cross the state line so he can get fair justice.
This is a strange movie. It has some very dark moments yet it has some laugh out loud moments due to some very funny dialogue. The film has a rousing, silly ending.
It's hard not to like any movie with the great James Garner in it. G.D. Spradling is very good as the evil Sheriff. The WWII era Sherman Tank is also fun to watch, especially when the Sergeant Major destroys the Sheriff's office.
This is a strange movie. It has some very dark moments yet it has some laugh out loud moments due to some very funny dialogue. The film has a rousing, silly ending.
It's hard not to like any movie with the great James Garner in it. G.D. Spradling is very good as the evil Sheriff. The WWII era Sherman Tank is also fun to watch, especially when the Sergeant Major destroys the Sheriff's office.
OK movie for the drama and action.
dcleveland-5983318 July 2019
This movie is good for 2 things. The drama and the tank scenes. It's problem is the entire plot. The absurdity of a county Sheriff being so powerful! Come on this guys in the military. The FBI would have come in and shut the entire town (it's government and all) down.
Awesome 80's
louiewv733623 January 2021
A reasonably enjoyable film
dl4323 November 2006
Not only does Tank offer varied assortments in the ways of wit, action, and humor, I believe that it also accurate portrays the periodic levels of corruption that previously and continue to plague the various small town, white-bred trailer trash communities across the nation, moreover a mild example of which I can personally relate to.
Two years ago, a similar rural community with it's own breed of laws and regulations attempted to suspend my driving privileges upon ticketing a driver for speeding that had confiscated a driver's license that I had previously reported as stolen. My attempts to explain myself only proved a fruitless endeavor, as the community encouraged me to pay up and get over it. Only after I hired an attorney and threatened a lawsuit, did the grit munching scum-suckers in question withdraw their insistence.
Within this film, a corrupt southern bred police department attempts to enslave an Army Major's son after a deputy is justifiable beaten up in retaliation to assaulting a falsely branded "prostitute". As a portion of cover, the malevolent Sheriff runs a broadly defined farm that actually qualifies as a labor camp from which to subject luckless youths to intensive brutality. After failed attempts to appease the Sheriff's fury, James Garner elects to take matters into his own hands, commandeering a personally owned Sherman Tank in which to spring his son, and demolish a few of the corrupt police department's facilities along the way.
Perhaps another reason I enjoyed this movie is the presence of the highly versatile score by the incomparable Lalo Schifrin, who employs every compositional style in the book from Jazz to traditional military marches and a highly catchy disco tune. Unfortunately, the latter becomes a subject of unwarranted contempt from the Sergeant major's redneck upbringing, as he encourages local bars to refit their repertroire to stay any unwanted coersions to "dance the funky monkey".
Overall, the film offers a highly sympathetic premise, that eerily enough seems completely plausible in today's terms, given the prevalence of small towns, isolated from the civilized world and thus prone to erect their own dictatorial policies, no matter how severe.
Two years ago, a similar rural community with it's own breed of laws and regulations attempted to suspend my driving privileges upon ticketing a driver for speeding that had confiscated a driver's license that I had previously reported as stolen. My attempts to explain myself only proved a fruitless endeavor, as the community encouraged me to pay up and get over it. Only after I hired an attorney and threatened a lawsuit, did the grit munching scum-suckers in question withdraw their insistence.
Within this film, a corrupt southern bred police department attempts to enslave an Army Major's son after a deputy is justifiable beaten up in retaliation to assaulting a falsely branded "prostitute". As a portion of cover, the malevolent Sheriff runs a broadly defined farm that actually qualifies as a labor camp from which to subject luckless youths to intensive brutality. After failed attempts to appease the Sheriff's fury, James Garner elects to take matters into his own hands, commandeering a personally owned Sherman Tank in which to spring his son, and demolish a few of the corrupt police department's facilities along the way.
Perhaps another reason I enjoyed this movie is the presence of the highly versatile score by the incomparable Lalo Schifrin, who employs every compositional style in the book from Jazz to traditional military marches and a highly catchy disco tune. Unfortunately, the latter becomes a subject of unwarranted contempt from the Sergeant major's redneck upbringing, as he encourages local bars to refit their repertroire to stay any unwanted coersions to "dance the funky monkey".
Overall, the film offers a highly sympathetic premise, that eerily enough seems completely plausible in today's terms, given the prevalence of small towns, isolated from the civilized world and thus prone to erect their own dictatorial policies, no matter how severe.
not good
disdressed1220 August 2008
i didn't enjoy this movie at all.for one,i just found it crude and vulgar,for no reason.i also felt it's misogynistic(against women.)also,the movie really doesn't appear to be about anything,and i didn't find any of the characters likable.really,the there doesn't seem to be any point to it all.maybe i'm missing something,but for me,this movie is pretty much a waste of time,when i could have been doing something more productive and enjoyable.like using my face as a pin cushion.James garner is in this thing,as are C.Thomas Howell and Shirley Jones,and James Cromwell.all are wasted here,and i'm sure this was a low point in each of their respective careers.Jennilee Harrison(from the later years of Three's Company)is also in the movie,and it is nice to see her in a non ditsy role.but other than that,she can't rise above the mediocre script.for me,Tank is a 3/10
Mindless fun
knsevy17 December 2003
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS - LIKE I'M REALLY GONNA RUIN IT FOR YA!***
When I first started seeing posters for this film in the movie theatres, I thought all my dreams had come true. A movie about a tank! ALL about a tank! It'll crush cars and blow things up!
I went into the theatre on opening night expecting just that, and that's just what I got. At nine years of age, plot and acting didn't mean a whole lot to me - not when a Sherman tank was running over cop cars, anyway.
Now, I can see this film for what it is: a paper-thin plot, mostly-wooden acting (Except for G.D. Spradlin chewing the scenery), and plot holes you could, well, drive a tank through. But what the hell? It's a fun little movie, with plenty of tankish action to keep armor enthusiasts like me interested, even if the rest of the story IS so stupid it makes me want to retch.
When I first started seeing posters for this film in the movie theatres, I thought all my dreams had come true. A movie about a tank! ALL about a tank! It'll crush cars and blow things up!
I went into the theatre on opening night expecting just that, and that's just what I got. At nine years of age, plot and acting didn't mean a whole lot to me - not when a Sherman tank was running over cop cars, anyway.
Now, I can see this film for what it is: a paper-thin plot, mostly-wooden acting (Except for G.D. Spradlin chewing the scenery), and plot holes you could, well, drive a tank through. But what the hell? It's a fun little movie, with plenty of tankish action to keep armor enthusiasts like me interested, even if the rest of the story IS so stupid it makes me want to retch.
A truly cartoonish film!
WalterFrith4 March 1999
James Garner portrays a military officer who has one very unique distinction. He owns his own Sherman tank! After butting heads with a sheriff's deputy, his son is framed for drug possession and he must battle wits with the evil sheriff.
This movie is sort of a cross between the original 'Smokey and the Bandit' and a free wheeling episode of 'The Dukes of Hazzard'. It's a predictable, mildly amusing film with cultural stereotypes. If you're willing to overlook this, it will provide you with the typical fast food type of entertainment.
This movie is sort of a cross between the original 'Smokey and the Bandit' and a free wheeling episode of 'The Dukes of Hazzard'. It's a predictable, mildly amusing film with cultural stereotypes. If you're willing to overlook this, it will provide you with the typical fast food type of entertainment.
The Benefits of Owning Your Own Sherman Tank
view_and_review18 August 2019
Sergeant Major Zack Carey (James Garner) made the mistake of being chivalrous in Clemmons, GA. He simply couldn't ignore Deputy Euclid (James Cromwell) beating on the local prostitute. But how was he to know that some bruises on a deputy would so deeply offend the sheriff? Well, that it did and Sheriff Buelton (G.D. Spradlin) is not a very forgiving or even reasonable man.
Sheriff Buelton wanted Carey's hide and when he couldn't get it he had to devise another method of payback. So, he went about planting marijuana in Carey's son's locker. In the small county of Clemmons, GA where the sheriff calls all the shots, that equaled a ticket to jail and whatever else Buelton wanted to do to Billy (C. Thomas Howell).
Carey realized he was defeated and was ready to pay the piper but his wife, LaDonna (Shirley Jones) opted for another resolution. Ole Buelton didn't like the wife's resolution so he fast tracked Billy right to a work labor camp where his safety was a complete toss up.
By this time Sergeant Major Carey had had enough and it was time to get tough. Time to break out the Sherman Tank.
This was a cool movie. At times it was serious and at times it was light. It seemed like whenever real shooting was taking place it was a bit light. They didn't want to kill anybody. When it came to Boss Hogg aka Sheriff Buelton getting his just desserts then it was serious. There was nothing light about his heavy-handed, backwards, racist, and redneck approach to the law. He made a perfect antagonist. He was so easy to hate and root against it made Carey's plight that much more appealing. It was hard to know what year all of this was taking place the sheriff was so confident, reckless, and dismissive of the law. He was the law and well beyond arrests and charges. It was like he ran Georgia!
The trouble Carey was dragged into because he had a heart for a hooker didn't even add up. It was like he rekindled the North v. the South. The moral of the story--what the seasoned rapper E-40 once preached:
Don't save a ho'.
The next thing you know your sons is in prison on some false charges and you're trying to drive a tank across state lines.
Sheriff Buelton wanted Carey's hide and when he couldn't get it he had to devise another method of payback. So, he went about planting marijuana in Carey's son's locker. In the small county of Clemmons, GA where the sheriff calls all the shots, that equaled a ticket to jail and whatever else Buelton wanted to do to Billy (C. Thomas Howell).
Carey realized he was defeated and was ready to pay the piper but his wife, LaDonna (Shirley Jones) opted for another resolution. Ole Buelton didn't like the wife's resolution so he fast tracked Billy right to a work labor camp where his safety was a complete toss up.
By this time Sergeant Major Carey had had enough and it was time to get tough. Time to break out the Sherman Tank.
This was a cool movie. At times it was serious and at times it was light. It seemed like whenever real shooting was taking place it was a bit light. They didn't want to kill anybody. When it came to Boss Hogg aka Sheriff Buelton getting his just desserts then it was serious. There was nothing light about his heavy-handed, backwards, racist, and redneck approach to the law. He made a perfect antagonist. He was so easy to hate and root against it made Carey's plight that much more appealing. It was hard to know what year all of this was taking place the sheriff was so confident, reckless, and dismissive of the law. He was the law and well beyond arrests and charges. It was like he ran Georgia!
The trouble Carey was dragged into because he had a heart for a hooker didn't even add up. It was like he rekindled the North v. the South. The moral of the story--what the seasoned rapper E-40 once preached:
Don't save a ho'.
The next thing you know your sons is in prison on some false charges and you're trying to drive a tank across state lines.
Assinine
rollo_tomaso21 February 2001
This is absolutely the dumbest movie I've ever seen. What a waste of a splendid cast. That's James Cromwell as the ignoramus playing deputy. I could go on and on, but I would obviously be spending more time on this review than anybody ever did on the script. The only thing this movie is about is us vs. them and how to revel in profane slapstick beyond any reasonable human being's tolerance. This is one of the 10 worst movies I have ever seen -- and I LOVE James Garner.
Worth seeing once. Definitely NOT a comedy!
sarossell11 June 2020
The premise of the story may be farcical and perhaps even silly. And the soundtrack does a good job of trying to keep it light, but this is a harsh movie portraying extreme local government corruption, violent child abuse, racial violence, abuse of power, vigilantism, unlawful imprisonment, threats of imposed sodomy while incarcerated, prostitution...need I go on? This movie should have been rated R but managed to squeeze into a PG rating just before the PG-13 rating was created. It's worth seeing, but not if you're looking for a comedy.
Arrogance is No Match Against a Sherman Tank
Uriah4317 August 2016
This movie begins with an Army Command Sergeant Major named "Zack Carey" (James Garner) relocating to a new assignment somewhere in Georgia. What makes Zack so unusual is that during the course of his military career he has managed to build a Sherman tank from scratch and he is taking it with him to his new post. Although this is his last tour of duty he soon discovers that he is not destined to retire in peace as a brawl at a nightclub puts him and his entire family in the sights of an evil law enforcement official by the name of "Sheriff Buelton" (G. D. Spradlin). However, what Sheriff Buelton fails to take into account is that, even though he has a great deal of authority in the local area, it isn't wise to bully a man like like CSM Carey too far--especially when he has a Sherman tank at his disposal. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, even though this picture was a minor success when it first came out, having seen it again just recently I must admit that the film itself is rather uneven and hasn't improved with age. Yet despite its obvious flaws, it's still entertaining to a certain degree and because of that I have rated it accordingly. Average.
CHEER! - (7 stars out of 10)
BJG-Reviews19 April 2023
The stage curtains open ...
Reporter: "Why would anyone want to own a Sherman tank?" Zack: "Because it's very hard to shoot yourself while you're cleaning it."
"Tank" (1984) starring James Garner, C. Thomas Howell, Shirley Jones, and Jenilee Harrison was one of those films I remember hitting the theaters when I was about 15 years old. I saw the poster and just knew that I had to see it. I was already a fan of James Garner having watched countless episodes of "The Rockford Files" everyday after school. But, for whatever reason, I never did get to see it until many years later ... and it still delivered on its promise.
Sergeant Major Zack Carey (Garner) is moving with his family to Georgia where he hopes it will be his last post in the Army. He brings along with him a Sherman tank that he has fully restored over the last 15 years, something he takes great pride in. He is looking forward to retiring so that he can spend quality time with his family before his son is old enough to move out of the house. However, all plans are put on hold when he gets into it with the local law enforcement in a bar one night and the corrupt sheriff won't be satisfied until Zack is behind bars. When he isn't able to pry the Sergeant Major off of the Army base, he goes after his son instead, unjustly placing him on a prison farm for something he didn't do. Feeling he has no choice or recourse, Zack takes things into his own hands and decides to take his Sherman tank out for a little drive.
I've seen this movie twice now, and I enjoyed it more the 2nd time I saw it. The film was very well cast, with every actor filling their role perfectly. James Garner as the Sergeant Major, Shirley Jones as his no-nonsense, military wife, and G. D. Spradling as the evil sheriff, were all convincing and put in solid performances. The story was fun, though a bit over-the-top at the end - and the side stories along the way were well conceived and executed.
I really enjoyed this movie and would not hesitate to recommend it at a strong 7 stars out of 10. It is a fun slice of the 80's for me, even though I saw it much later. Just seeing James Garner giving that thumbs up on the poster brings back good memories from a good time for me. If you want to be entertained where the good guy triumphs over the bad guy with a 'feel good' ending, then you can do a lot worse than "Tank".
Reporter: "Why would anyone want to own a Sherman tank?" Zack: "Because it's very hard to shoot yourself while you're cleaning it."
"Tank" (1984) starring James Garner, C. Thomas Howell, Shirley Jones, and Jenilee Harrison was one of those films I remember hitting the theaters when I was about 15 years old. I saw the poster and just knew that I had to see it. I was already a fan of James Garner having watched countless episodes of "The Rockford Files" everyday after school. But, for whatever reason, I never did get to see it until many years later ... and it still delivered on its promise.
Sergeant Major Zack Carey (Garner) is moving with his family to Georgia where he hopes it will be his last post in the Army. He brings along with him a Sherman tank that he has fully restored over the last 15 years, something he takes great pride in. He is looking forward to retiring so that he can spend quality time with his family before his son is old enough to move out of the house. However, all plans are put on hold when he gets into it with the local law enforcement in a bar one night and the corrupt sheriff won't be satisfied until Zack is behind bars. When he isn't able to pry the Sergeant Major off of the Army base, he goes after his son instead, unjustly placing him on a prison farm for something he didn't do. Feeling he has no choice or recourse, Zack takes things into his own hands and decides to take his Sherman tank out for a little drive.
I've seen this movie twice now, and I enjoyed it more the 2nd time I saw it. The film was very well cast, with every actor filling their role perfectly. James Garner as the Sergeant Major, Shirley Jones as his no-nonsense, military wife, and G. D. Spradling as the evil sheriff, were all convincing and put in solid performances. The story was fun, though a bit over-the-top at the end - and the side stories along the way were well conceived and executed.
I really enjoyed this movie and would not hesitate to recommend it at a strong 7 stars out of 10. It is a fun slice of the 80's for me, even though I saw it much later. Just seeing James Garner giving that thumbs up on the poster brings back good memories from a good time for me. If you want to be entertained where the good guy triumphs over the bad guy with a 'feel good' ending, then you can do a lot worse than "Tank".
Very Dumb
davedrawsgood15 October 2019
Nice Rack
Intermissionman_8 April 2020
Happy Birthday James Garner 4 -7
In this Movie he plays a Tough Army Sergeant. Plot bit predictable but great Visual effects with the Tank and really talented Cast make up for the cheesy parts😍Watch on StarZ Jenilee Harrison plays Sarah a Hooker on the Sheriff's payroll,
not sure if it was intended by the director but her character wears about the same wardrobe thru out. Don't mean to be sexist but Nice Rack and Film. Off the radar ?
sTank
blurnieghey6 October 2019
This is another one of those movies I never bothered to watch around the time it came out as, even by my 15 year-olds standards, the thing looked dumb as hell and seriously corny. As part of my quest to watch every cheeseball action flick from the 80's through a set of adult eyes, this one was actually on my active list of movies to find a cheap copy of, recalling that it was somewhat popular at the time and, for $0.25 at a local thrift store, I was both able to accomplish the tasks of crossing this one off the list and reflecting that, even as a 15 year-old, I could judge a book by its cover pretty good. I mean, just look at the cover of the box! If that picture of James Garner giving the "thumbs up" and the kid doing the "hell yeah!" doesn't give you a clue of what you're in for, then I don't know what can.
So this is one of those movies where some people might say, "they sure don't make them like this anymore", to which I would have to disagree. Considering the ridiculous plot, the fact that nothing anybody does or what goes down would ever happen in real life and the complete absence of common sense or realism in any way, shape, or form, I'd say it is very much in keeping with the low IQ crap that gets churned out these days and may have been ahead of its time. I can see why the sheriff was on such a power trip, though, since, if the base was in Fort Benning and his county extended to the Tennessee state line, the guy was in charge of hundreds and hundreds of square miles. I'm surprised he didn't have a bigger jail and more deputies and even more surprised that James Garner didn't just drive into Alabama--not that he wouldn't have been blown to pieces before he even got to the fence at the perimeter of the base! I could go on and on about the plot holes large enough to drive a Sherman tank through and, as far as this movie is concerned, does. It's completely ridiculous but, while it technically deserves maybe two or three stars at best, I'm giving it seven because it either had my palm to my forehead or laughing my ass off. Really dumb, cheesy stuff for fans of really dumb, cheesy stuff! If you are in the mood for a serious 1980's crap-fest, then find a cheap copy somewhere and prepare to be stunned by the shear dumbassitude.
So this is one of those movies where some people might say, "they sure don't make them like this anymore", to which I would have to disagree. Considering the ridiculous plot, the fact that nothing anybody does or what goes down would ever happen in real life and the complete absence of common sense or realism in any way, shape, or form, I'd say it is very much in keeping with the low IQ crap that gets churned out these days and may have been ahead of its time. I can see why the sheriff was on such a power trip, though, since, if the base was in Fort Benning and his county extended to the Tennessee state line, the guy was in charge of hundreds and hundreds of square miles. I'm surprised he didn't have a bigger jail and more deputies and even more surprised that James Garner didn't just drive into Alabama--not that he wouldn't have been blown to pieces before he even got to the fence at the perimeter of the base! I could go on and on about the plot holes large enough to drive a Sherman tank through and, as far as this movie is concerned, does. It's completely ridiculous but, while it technically deserves maybe two or three stars at best, I'm giving it seven because it either had my palm to my forehead or laughing my ass off. Really dumb, cheesy stuff for fans of really dumb, cheesy stuff! If you are in the mood for a serious 1980's crap-fest, then find a cheap copy somewhere and prepare to be stunned by the shear dumbassitude.
GROSSLY politically incorrect, but PG film!
nvjs22 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
While that is unheard of today, back in the 80's it wasn't so. Movies and popular culture didn't have that PC dogma. While this movie is...a jingoistic ballad for the Reagan era. Tank does have a great antagonist. Even the 80's produced despicable villains who you enjoyed hating. Not one of these overly polite "villains" who kill you with kindness and have the consideration of today's good guys. Garner and Spradlin are not at fault here. Garner's Master Sergeant Carey, and Spradlin's Cyrus Buelton actually gave performances above their salary. Not Oscar worthy, but that's not this kind of material and I think they saw that going in. It's everyone else who just delivers these perky and wooden performances that probably reflect their enthusiasm. Or salary. The "plot" begins with M.Sgt. Carey visiting a bar and chatting it up with a prostitute. Well, Carey's not a local and is unaware of local politics. When the deputy abuses a local pro (who lives in a cliché'd trailer), Carey chivalrously doles out repercussions to him. Well, the next morning, the big hoss sees that he's been dis-respected. Since Euclid has his face marked up, metaphorically, the Sheriff's "face is marked up." Well, that just encourages degenerates to start sassing their hoss.Apparently, Buelton fancies himself a surrogate father who views his subjects as belligerents. And enjoys that. Buelton runs his district like Caligula, Tiberius, Nero, and a 4 foot Napoleon combined! Well, things escalate as Buelton's petty ego demands extortion, and retribution. I love how Buelton; being a Sheriff, doesn't know much about law except what he chooses to know and enforce. Buelton has Carey's son, Billy framed to get to Carey and shows Carey who's the "massa" at a inmate labor farm. In a not-so-veiled threat to inspire compliance from Carey. Well, Carey's wife complicates matters by hiring a lawyer who is promptly incarcerated and Buelton provoked into upping the ante to show Carey he means business. While this story seems far fetched, it's supposed to be based on an incident with Patton. I couldn't see execs green-lighting a project like this today on this scale. But if you like these far fetched 80's films. I recommend writers take note of how a villain is should be portrayed. Tank did succeed in making Buelton so ruthlessly sadistic, that you yearned for Buelton to get his come-uppance. But that's all it succeeded in doing it. The result is far less gratifying. Short story long:What the movie's morality is saying; is that when you play by the rules, and the law doesn't, you have carte blanche to see that you get the justice you deserve. As long as you have ten grand, a wife of suspiciously infinite kindness, and a Sherman Tank at Fort Benning. This is sadistic film-making at it's best.
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