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Volunteers (1985)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
16 August 1985 (USA)
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Tagline:
Ready or not, here they come more
Plot:
Lawrence is a rich kid with a bad accent and a large debt. After his father refuses to help him out...
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Plot Keywords:
Bridge
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Peace Corps
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Southeast Asia
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Bookie
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Gambler
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User Comments:
A consistently underrated movie.
more (25 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Tom Hanks | ... | Lawrence Whatley Bourne III |
 | John Candy | ... | Tom Tuttle |
 | Rita Wilson | ... | Beth Wexler |
 | Tim Thomerson | ... | John Reynolds |
 | Gedde Watanabe | ... | At Toon |
| George Plimpton | ... | Lawrence Bourne Jr. |
| Ernest Harada | ... | Chung Mee |
| Allan Arbus | ... | Albert Bardenaro |
 | Xander Berkeley | ... | Kent Sutcliffe |
| Ji-Tu Cumbuka | ... | Cicero |
| Guillermo Río | ... | Sumo Guard |
| Jacqueline Evans | ... | Aunt Eunice |
| Pamela Gual | ... | Tammy the Stewardess |
| Philip Guilmant | ... | Yale President |
| Chick Hearn | ... | Announcer |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Tom Hanks and 'Rita Wilson' met while filming this movie and married three years later. Rita Wilson originally met Tom Hanks in 1981 on the set of "Bosom Buddies" (1980) when she guest-starred as Peter Scolari's Satan-worshiping girlfriend. But their relationship wasn't kindled until they were reunited on the set of this movie
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: In the scene in the bar when Beth asks for a Coke, Lawrence pulls a couple of then-current era - 1985 - Coca Cola bottles out of the cooler. The 1985 Coke bottle had a slimmer, straighter shape than the era-correct (1962), green wasp-waist Coke bottle, with a red block logo with "Coca Cola" in white script.
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Quotes:
Beth Wexler:
[Lawrence is trying to talk Beth into bed] I thought we were becoming friends!
Lawrence Bourne III: This is what I do with my friends.
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Lawrence Bourne III: This is what I do with my friends.
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Movie Connections:
References Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (25 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Volunteers (1985)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Favorite Quote from this movie? | Mister Mysterio |
| Chung Mee's Super-Hot Bodyguard | johnnyb94109 |
| apocalypse now similarity | robotbreath |
| soundtrack? | mattyb154 |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
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Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |
Volunteers is a consistently underrated movie. I usually agree with the typical video guide reviews, but I fall out of bed on this one. Volunteers is a very funny, well written, well acted film. It is so packed with humour it reminds me of the old Mad Magazines with the jokes written in the margins. Some of the humour is rather subtle and the dialogue rolls right over it. If you're not paying attention, you might miss it.
Tom Hanks is perfect as Lawrence Bourne III, the Ivy League cad. John Candy is at the top of his form as the brainwashed Tom Tuttle from Tacoma. Geddy Watanabe as the "street smart" Thai gives a performance on par with his Long Duc Dong of Sixteen Candles. And Rita Wilson is totally convincing as the idealistic Peace Corps volunteer out to teach the masses the advantages of Self-Styling Adorn.
If you don't think the ratings are off on this one, I suggest this test. Watch Splash and Volunteers back to back and see which one you think is funnier. Both star Hanks and were made at about the same time. Splash was highly rated by the guides while Volunteers was given mediocre ratings. I think the ratings should be reversed.