Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Bill Murray | ... | John | |
Harold Ramis | ... | Russell | |
Warren Oates | ... | Sgt. Hulka | |
P.J. Soles | ... | Stella | |
Sean Young | ... | Louise | |
John Candy | ... | Ox | |
John Larroquette | ... | Capt. Stillman | |
John Voldstad | ... | Stillman's Aide | |
John Diehl | ... | Cruiser | |
Lance LeGault | ... | Col. Glass | |
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Roberta Leighton | ... | Anita |
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Conrad Dunn | ... | Psycho |
Judge Reinhold | ... | Elmo | |
Antone Pagán | ... | Hector (as Antone Pagan) | |
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Glenn-Michael Jones | ... | Leon |
At the end of a very bad day when he realizes his life has gone and is going nowhere, John Winger is able to convince his best friend, Russell Ziskey, whose life is not much better, to enlist in the army, despite they not being obvious soldier material. In basic training, they are only two of a bunch of misfits that comprise their platoon. However, it is still John that is constantly butting heads with their drill sergeant, Sergeant Hulka. Two of their saving graces are Stella and Louise, two MPs who get them out of one scrape after another. Their entire platoon is in jeopardy of not graduating. But what happens during basic leads to their entire platoon being assigned to an overseas mission in Italy, to test a new urban assault vehicle, the EM-50 project. John and Russell decide to take the EM-50 for an unauthorized test drive to visit Stella and Louise who have been reassigned to West Germany. In the process, the rest of the platoon, Hulka, and Hulka's immediate superior, ... Written by Huggo
Three giants of American comedy Bill Murray, John Candy and Harrold Ramis star in this often funny, occasionally hilarious tale of misfits joining the army. This is along the lines of Police Academy in plot but slightly less zany in delivery due to the deadpan delivery of Rammis and particularly Murry who plays the ultimate slacker.
It has to be said there are some comedy misfires in here and the ending is maybe a bit much, but overall this is a good little comedy. Murray is of course excellent as is most of the supporting cast, John Candy is maybe a little underused as Ox. Also the film is definitely of it's time (the cold war still in full swing, boo ruskies and reds etc) but that wont spoil your enjoyment.
7/10 - Not up there with Murray and Ramis best (Groundhog Day and Ghostbusters) but worth a watch on cable or rental.