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
The aircraft at the end of the movie that the heroes from Czechoslovakia disembark from is a US Air Force North American T-39A-1-NA Sabreliner, serial number 61-0642, a military variant of the Sabreliner commercial business jet. See more »
Goofs
When the EM-50 is driving up to the resort to pick up their MP girlfriends, the drivers arm is visible wearing a checked shirt. When Russell and Winger get out both are wearing jackets with no checkered shirts. See more »
Quotes
Captain Stillman:
Well, explain yourselves.
Dewey Oxburger:
Well sir, we were going to this bingo parlor at the YMCA, well one thing led to another, and the instructions got all fouled up...
Captain Stillman:
Shut up.
Dewey Oxburger:
Okay, Sir.
Captain Stillman:
You men are a *disgrace*. Maybe a few days in the stockade will help you change your rotten attitudes.
Cruiser:
But, um, we're supposed to graduate tomorrow, sir.
Captain Stillman:
That's even better. Tomorrow, you'll be on parade in front of General Barnicke. And when he sees what total fuck-ups you are, I will recommend that your whole platoon repeat ...
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Crazy Credits
Four actors with the first name "John", are listed back -to-back in the final credits: John Candy, John Larroquette, John Voldstad and John Diehl. See more »
Alternate Versions
The TV version omits all the nudity in the strip club scene, and replaces it with alternate takes, such as Psycho playing pinball. See more »
May be THE classic Bill Murray movie, with Murray, Ramis, Candy and other oddballs making it in the Army. There are three general sequences - Murray pre-Army, basic training, and the mission (occurring after Murray and Ramis "borrow" Army test vehicle with their MP girlfriends). Each of the sequences are funny, I personally like Murray pre-Army best and the mission least. Warren Oates as "Sgt. Hulka" is a modern classic. Over twenty years later and this is still the reigning service comedy.
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May be THE classic Bill Murray movie, with Murray, Ramis, Candy and other oddballs making it in the Army. There are three general sequences - Murray pre-Army, basic training, and the mission (occurring after Murray and Ramis "borrow" Army test vehicle with their MP girlfriends). Each of the sequences are funny, I personally like Murray pre-Army best and the mission least. Warren Oates as "Sgt. Hulka" is a modern classic. Over twenty years later and this is still the reigning service comedy.