Thoughts on Heartbreak Ridge - Is it REALLY that good?

Okay, so I finally got around to watching "Heartbreak Ridge". I know it's considered a bit of a classic, especially for Eastwood fans, but I went in with pretty high expectations and, honestly, I'm a little underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, it's watchable, but the whole "gruff sergeant whips a bunch of losers into shape" trope feels incredibly tired, even for 1986. Eastwood definitely delivers the hard-ass act as Gunny Highway – the gravelly voice, the squint, the constant chewing out of everyone – but it's almost too much. Like, relax Clint, we get it. It feels like he's leaning way too hard into the caricature. What did work for me was the actual training sequences. There's a certain visceral energy to the live-fire exercises and the close-quarters combat drills that feels authentic. And the way Highway uses unconventional tactics, drawing on his Vietnam experience, to prepare his recon platoon is genuinely interesting. The whole use of rock and roll as a communication system felt a bit silly, but hey, it's a movie. However, the scenes with his ex-wife felt forced and awkwardly shoe-horned in. It felt like they needed a subplot to 'humanize' Highway, but it just detracted from the core story. The conflict between Highway and the Lieutenant and Captain also felt contrived. I also think the tonal shifts are jarring. One minute it's a gritty war movie, the next it's a borderline comedy with all the recruits' antics. Then the invasion of Grenada comes along, feeling surprisingly rushed and almost like an afterthought to all the training. The actual combat scenes are okay, but I expected more. The writing felt a bit lazy overall, and there were several places where the continuity seemed broken or flawed. So, yeah, "Heartbreak Ridge" isn't terrible, and I can see why some people love it, but for me, it falls short of being a truly great war film. It's entertaining enough, but ultimately, it's a pretty predictable and somewhat cheesy ride. I'd be interested to hear what others think, though. Am I missing something? Let me know what you like (or didn't like!).