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| Stripes
Actors/Actresses:
- Bill Murray
- John Candy
- Sean Young
- Ivan Reitman
Bill Murray wants you
In one atypical morning, loser Murray loses his job, car, apartment, and girlfriend. This was pretty much his own doing, and since one stupid move deserves another, he and pal Ramis enlist in the army. His whole platoon is comprised of misfits,who give drill sergeant Warren Oates a run for his money. But when he's injured during basic training, Murray leads the platoon in completing basic training by themselves. This captures the attention of the general, who decides that these go-getters must be assigned to a special mission in Italy. The assignment in question is the EM-50, a killing machine disguised as an RV. Murray and Ramis, while on post, decide to take it for a little joyride. This results in the rest of their platoon being captured and held behind the iron curtain. Murray and a reluctant Ramis set off to rescue their counterparts. Very funny start to finish, with a hilarious scene in a mud wrestling club. Great supporting cast includes John Larroquette, John Candy, Judge Reinhold, and P.J. Soles. Screenwriter Ramis shines in his first on camera role. A welcome member of the "Animal House" genre.
Lighten up, Francis...
I'm a bit perplexed by the reviews criticizing this movie because of its unrealistic depiction of the Army. Do these same people complain that "Animal House" doesn't accurately display college life or that "Vacation" isn't what a family trip across the country is really like? (Hey, I live in St. Louis and could easily take exception to the outright offensive inaccuracies in "Vacation", but I still love the movie!) This is a comedy, folks. It's not "Saving Private Ryan" or "Band of Brothers", and it never claims or tries to be. It uses exaggeration and absurdities to make us laugh. It isn't striving for realism, although to its credit, I have heard plenty of people say that this is the best movie they've ever seen at giving you the feel for what its like going into the service, and that their own drill instructor was identical to Sgt Hulka.
Comedic Genius
While the Cold War setting of this movie may be a bit dated, the humor is still fresh and hilarious. This movie has a great cast featuring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, John Candy, Sean Young, John Laroquette, Judge Reinhold, and others, when they were relative nobodies. Well, some of them are still nobodies, but in any case... this movie is non-stop laughter! Murray and Ramis are great as a couple of losers who join the Army out of sheer desperation with their dead-end lives. They join up with a company of misfits and freaks with a hard-[corps] drill sergeant, played by Warren Oates in a comedic version of R. Lee Ermey's future role in Full Metal Jacket. The implausibility skyrockets as these fools somehow manage to fall in love, pass basic training, get assigned to guard a top-secret assault video, invade Eastern Europe, and defeat hordes of Commies. Still, what is classic 80's comedy without ridiculous situations such as these? It is a hilarious and completely frivolous movie, but filled with classic lines from Murray and non-stop laughter. Right up there with Caddyshack in the pantheon of goofy comedies, and definitely a few notches above the similarly themed Cold War comedy Spies Like Us. It is no Dr. Strangelove, but it was never meant to be. If you want to see Murray ; Co. at the height of their abilities, look no further.
Comedic Genius
While the Cold War setting of this movie may be a bit dated, the humor is still fresh and hilarious. This movie has a great cast featuring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, John Candy, Sean Young, John Laroquette, Judge Reinhold, and others, when they were relative nobodies. Well, some of them are still nobodies, but in any case... this movie is non-stop laughter! Murray and Ramis are great as a couple of losers who join the Army out of sheer desperation with their dead-end lives. They join up with a company of misfits and freaks with a hard-[corps] drill sergeant, played by Warren Oates in a comedic version of R. Lee Ermey's future role in Full Metal Jacket. The implausibility skyrockets as these fools somehow manage to fall in love, pass basic training, get assigned to guard a top-secret assault video, invade Eastern Europe, and defeat hordes of Commies. Still, what is classic 80's comedy without ridiculous situations such as these? It is a hilarious and completely frivolous movie, but filled with classic lines from Murray and non-stop laughter. Right up there with Caddyshack in the pantheon of goofy comedies, and definitely a few notches above the similarly themed Cold War comedy Spies Like Us. It is no Dr. Strangelove, but it was never meant to be. If you want to see Murray ; Co. at the height of their abilities, look no further.
Buy Stripes at Amazon.com
Buy posters at Allposters.com
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