I do like Bill Murray and I love John Candy, so I thought this could be at least a decent film. But I found it uneven and it just didn't do much for me. The film is well made, the score is wonderful, Warren Oates is excellent and there is evidence of good direction. But here come the downsides, overall I just didn't find it funny. The script does have weaknesses feeling rather sporadic and ramshackle in the laughs, complete with jokes that feel forced and flat, and while the story starts off well the second half has a change of tone into a kind of a very generic action film that jarred with the rest of the movie and some scenes especially the mud-wrestling match and any scene involving PJ Soles and Sean Young that fell short on credibility. Oates is great, the other acting isn't that good in my opinion, Bill Murray plays a very obnoxious and unlikeable character and unfortunately he isn't very funny which is sad, Harold Ramis' character is interesting but is rarely built upon, both John Candy and Judge Reinhold with some weak scenes and dialogue are dull sadly and the best said about John Laroquette the better. All in all, has the odd bright spot but I was left cold. 4/10 Bethany Cox
184 Reviews
It Can Stand Up To Goofballs.
bkoganbing15 December 2009
Despite the fact that there is no way on God's green earth or this country's army that such a set of circumstances could ever happen, that's still no reason not to enjoy Stripes. The film is in a long line of service comedies that date all the way back to Charlie Chaplin's Shoulder Arms and further than that. Even Shakespeare found some humor in army life, just read how Falstaff made do in the service of his king.
Of course Falstaff wasn't a drill sergeant like Warren Oates who had a platoon of underachievers with the likes of Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and John Candy as recruits. As is usual the service comedies make a mistake in that the basic training company stays intact with the same sergeant. In real life Oates would have taken a drink when the eight weeks was done and gone on to some fresh young trainees.
But some brain in the Pentagon decides that what a new type urban assault vehicle needs is some fresh recruits to maintain it, reasoning if the vehicle is worthy it can stand up to goofballs. The vehicle looks like your ordinary average camper, in fact Murray and Ramis while they're guarding it decide it would be a great chick magnet. So they pick up a pair of female MPs in P.J. Soles and Sean Young.
The officer in charge is John Larroquette who isn't much better than the recruits he has and when the vehicle turns up missing, he sounds the general alarm worthy of the Captain in Mister Roberts. He leads the whole troop after Murray and Ramis right into at that time Communist Czechoslovakia and some nasty Russians. Good thing they didn't have their A team playing either.
Stripes is your typical armed service comedy with a nice Eighties twist from Bill Murray and a crew from Saturday Night Live just coming into their prime as players. John Larroquette is the best in the film, imagine ADA Dan Fielding in an army uniform and you got Larroquette's character. You notice the New York County DA's office never gives Fielding any really big cases to handle.
And yes that vehicle can withstand anything and it has more tricks than James Bond's Astin-Martin. To see what and how much, you have to watch Stripes.
Of course Falstaff wasn't a drill sergeant like Warren Oates who had a platoon of underachievers with the likes of Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and John Candy as recruits. As is usual the service comedies make a mistake in that the basic training company stays intact with the same sergeant. In real life Oates would have taken a drink when the eight weeks was done and gone on to some fresh young trainees.
But some brain in the Pentagon decides that what a new type urban assault vehicle needs is some fresh recruits to maintain it, reasoning if the vehicle is worthy it can stand up to goofballs. The vehicle looks like your ordinary average camper, in fact Murray and Ramis while they're guarding it decide it would be a great chick magnet. So they pick up a pair of female MPs in P.J. Soles and Sean Young.
The officer in charge is John Larroquette who isn't much better than the recruits he has and when the vehicle turns up missing, he sounds the general alarm worthy of the Captain in Mister Roberts. He leads the whole troop after Murray and Ramis right into at that time Communist Czechoslovakia and some nasty Russians. Good thing they didn't have their A team playing either.
Stripes is your typical armed service comedy with a nice Eighties twist from Bill Murray and a crew from Saturday Night Live just coming into their prime as players. John Larroquette is the best in the film, imagine ADA Dan Fielding in an army uniform and you got Larroquette's character. You notice the New York County DA's office never gives Fielding any really big cases to handle.
And yes that vehicle can withstand anything and it has more tricks than James Bond's Astin-Martin. To see what and how much, you have to watch Stripes.
Scattershot comedy with a great cast
Leofwine_draca29 November 2014
STRIPES is a film that I wanted to like a great deal, given that it's an 1980s comedy (one of my favourite eras) with a fantastic cast who among them have appeared in some of the funniest films made in Hollywood. And yet it left me disappointed; it's not poor, exactly, just lacklustre in comparison to other '80s comedy hits like CADDYSHACK, GHOSTBUSTERS or the later PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES.
The problem with the film is twofold; there's a scattershot approach to the narrative which means that it drags in various places (particularly in the last third, which descends into meaningless action out of place with the earlier comedy), and in addition the script just isn't that funny. It's just going through the same kind of jokes as in CARRY ON SERGEANT, made some 34 years previously, with some added T&A to spice things up.
The best thing about the production is unsurprisingly the cast, headed by an on-form Bill Murray. Harold Ramis is predictably decent, and there's a nice role for John Candy before he adopted the lovable goof character of later years. PJ Soles and Sean Young are here too, but I found their characters annoying, getting in the way of the army situation. Warren Oates looks a bit battered but it's still good to see him in one of his final roles.
The problem with the film is twofold; there's a scattershot approach to the narrative which means that it drags in various places (particularly in the last third, which descends into meaningless action out of place with the earlier comedy), and in addition the script just isn't that funny. It's just going through the same kind of jokes as in CARRY ON SERGEANT, made some 34 years previously, with some added T&A to spice things up.
The best thing about the production is unsurprisingly the cast, headed by an on-form Bill Murray. Harold Ramis is predictably decent, and there's a nice role for John Candy before he adopted the lovable goof character of later years. PJ Soles and Sean Young are here too, but I found their characters annoying, getting in the way of the army situation. Warren Oates looks a bit battered but it's still good to see him in one of his final roles.
The gang being funny
SnoopyStyle17 September 2013
John Winger (Bill Murray) quits his cab driving job and loses his girlfriend. In addition, he loses his car and his home. His best friend Russell (Harold Ramis) is tired of teaching ESL. John convinces Russell to join the army with him. There they meet fellow recruit Ox (John Candy). Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates) shapes them up and they're led by the sleazy incompetent Capt. Stillman (John Larroquette). The fact that John and Russell keep getting into trouble means that they continuously encounter MPs Stella (PJ Soles) and Louise (Sean Young).
Director Ivan Reitman brings the gang together for a bit of fun. Bill Murray is his sarcastic self. Harold Ramis is a competent sidekick. The best fun was had by John Candy who gets to mud wrestle a whole bevel of beauties. Although not the group's best collaboration, this is still very funny especially if you like Bill Murray's antics.
Director Ivan Reitman brings the gang together for a bit of fun. Bill Murray is his sarcastic self. Harold Ramis is a competent sidekick. The best fun was had by John Candy who gets to mud wrestle a whole bevel of beauties. Although not the group's best collaboration, this is still very funny especially if you like Bill Murray's antics.
Carry on Seargeant
Prismark101 February 2016
Stripes is that naughty, irreverent slob comedy which laid down the template for movies like Police Academy.
Set in the early 1980s, John (Bill Murray) is a slobbish, slacker cab driver who gets fired for taking an old lady on a hair raising spin to the airport. He also gets dumped by his girlfriend. Russell (Harold Ramis) is unmotivated as an English teacher to new immigrants.
Somehow John persuades Russell that life would be better if they joined the army although Murray with his receding hairline looks too old to be a new recruit.
During basic training they meet the larger than life Ox (John Candy) dim Cruiser (John Diehl) and trying to get them into shape is stern Sgt Hulka (Warren Oates.)
The platoon leader is incompetent Capt Stillman (John Larroquette) who spends more time as a Peeping Tom.
John riles Sgt Hulka very early on and his recruits look very unlikely to pass basic training especially when Hulka is involved in an incident when Stillman ends up injuring him.
Despite their incompetence John and Russell manage to charge two female Military Police officers Stella (PJ Soles) and Louise (Sean Young).
Murray and Ramis underplay their characters and you see underneath the genesis of characters that they would go on to play in Ghostbusters.
The big problem with the film is the script is too scattered and despite the abundance of t & a it is not funny enough. Animal House had some amusing set pieces and an underlying satire about Frat Houses and its linked with social status.
Stripes see Murray making not very clever or funny quips which sets him at odds with Sgt Hulka and gets his squad into bother. If I had to do a 10 miles run instead of a 5 miles one on my first day in the army, I would had given Murray a good kicking and the rest of the troops will had joined me.
The third act where they squad goes to Europe to test a new vehicle which John and Russell borrow to go off with their girlfriends is even more silly but just tagged on so they can be accidental heroes and Stillman can get his comeuppance.
Of course looking back at it this was just an updated version of the first ever Carry On film made in Britain in the 1950s.
Set in the early 1980s, John (Bill Murray) is a slobbish, slacker cab driver who gets fired for taking an old lady on a hair raising spin to the airport. He also gets dumped by his girlfriend. Russell (Harold Ramis) is unmotivated as an English teacher to new immigrants.
Somehow John persuades Russell that life would be better if they joined the army although Murray with his receding hairline looks too old to be a new recruit.
During basic training they meet the larger than life Ox (John Candy) dim Cruiser (John Diehl) and trying to get them into shape is stern Sgt Hulka (Warren Oates.)
The platoon leader is incompetent Capt Stillman (John Larroquette) who spends more time as a Peeping Tom.
John riles Sgt Hulka very early on and his recruits look very unlikely to pass basic training especially when Hulka is involved in an incident when Stillman ends up injuring him.
Despite their incompetence John and Russell manage to charge two female Military Police officers Stella (PJ Soles) and Louise (Sean Young).
Murray and Ramis underplay their characters and you see underneath the genesis of characters that they would go on to play in Ghostbusters.
The big problem with the film is the script is too scattered and despite the abundance of t & a it is not funny enough. Animal House had some amusing set pieces and an underlying satire about Frat Houses and its linked with social status.
Stripes see Murray making not very clever or funny quips which sets him at odds with Sgt Hulka and gets his squad into bother. If I had to do a 10 miles run instead of a 5 miles one on my first day in the army, I would had given Murray a good kicking and the rest of the troops will had joined me.
The third act where they squad goes to Europe to test a new vehicle which John and Russell borrow to go off with their girlfriends is even more silly but just tagged on so they can be accidental heroes and Stillman can get his comeuppance.
Of course looking back at it this was just an updated version of the first ever Carry On film made in Britain in the 1950s.
The military is not something to make fun of. It can do that perfectly fine on its own without really trying.
mark.waltz11 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
It's nice to see some of the casts of Saturday Night Live and SCTV come together on film. Here, Bill Murray meets John Candy, and it's absolute hilarity at the expense of the army, obviously made on the basis of the success of "Private Benjamin", but changing genders as it heads back into comic territory that has tickled audiences going back way before Abbott and Costello turned the military upside down in "Buck Privates". Here, Murray and old pal Harold Ramos enter the military and fond themselves getting away with all sorts of pranks, with Candy and Judge Reinhold among the others they encounter in an attempt at becoming soldiers that seems to be a major implausibility.
This farce isn't reflective of army life in any way, shape or form, just a scathing commentary on the silliness of the seriousness of it all. Arrogant non-commissioned officers, serious privates and imperious officers are given scathing portrayals, showing the real life NCO's, privates and commissioned officers how ridiculous they look with that scowling look and stuck up attitude that under some circumstances leads to rebellion. A young John Laroquette spoofs that image as the new captain on the training base who has secrets that isn't becoming of an officer.
Emulating Sergeant Carter from "Gomer Pyle U.S.M.D.", Warren Oates plays the typical screaming and sneering drill sergeant who meets his match in the sassy Murray. P.J. Soles and Sean Young play two female m.p.'s who are lacking in discipline every time they encounter Murray and Ramis, especially when Murray gets frisky with an ice cream scoop. Forget about any sense of reality with their characters, thrown in along with some innocent T&A for sexy thrills. Having already explored slobs vs. the preppy's and slobs vs. the snobs, this is the slobs vs. humorless authority, making along with "Animal House" and "Caddyshack" a trio of slob comedies that started a new genre of comedy and one that is still ripped off today.
This farce isn't reflective of army life in any way, shape or form, just a scathing commentary on the silliness of the seriousness of it all. Arrogant non-commissioned officers, serious privates and imperious officers are given scathing portrayals, showing the real life NCO's, privates and commissioned officers how ridiculous they look with that scowling look and stuck up attitude that under some circumstances leads to rebellion. A young John Laroquette spoofs that image as the new captain on the training base who has secrets that isn't becoming of an officer.
Emulating Sergeant Carter from "Gomer Pyle U.S.M.D.", Warren Oates plays the typical screaming and sneering drill sergeant who meets his match in the sassy Murray. P.J. Soles and Sean Young play two female m.p.'s who are lacking in discipline every time they encounter Murray and Ramis, especially when Murray gets frisky with an ice cream scoop. Forget about any sense of reality with their characters, thrown in along with some innocent T&A for sexy thrills. Having already explored slobs vs. the preppy's and slobs vs. the snobs, this is the slobs vs. humorless authority, making along with "Animal House" and "Caddyshack" a trio of slob comedies that started a new genre of comedy and one that is still ripped off today.
Silly and Funny – What Else Could I Expect from This Cast?
claudio_carvalho9 July 2011
After a terrible day when the taxi driver John Winger (Bill Murray) loses his job, his car and finally is dumped by his girlfriend Anita (Roberta Leighton), he convinces his best friend Russell (Harold Ramis) to join the army to travel and have fun. They team-up with a platoon of outcast and misfits, and John has problems with their tough Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates). John and Russell get into successive troubles, but they are always rescued by the Military Police Officers Stella (P.J. Soles) and Louise (Sean Young).
Near the graduation, the clumsy and imbecile Captain Stillman (John Larroquette) provokes an accident and Sergeant Hulka is wounded; however, John uses his leadership and the general is impressed with the platoon and assigns the group to go to Italy with the prototype of an armored car. John and Russell are responsible to take care of the prototype, but they date Stella and Louise. Meanwhile Captain Stillman believes that they have stolen the vehicle and crosses the Iron Curtain with Hulka's platoon and they are captured by the communist. Sergeant Hulka escapes and releases a distress signal and John, Russell, Stella and Louise decide to help to rescue their friends from Czechoslovakia.
"Stripes" is a silly and funny comedy, but what else could I expect from a cast with the names of Bill Murray, John Candy, John Larroquette and the other comedians. The extended cut is long and most of the jokes are "politically incorrect" or sexists, but also hilarious. This is the first time that I see this 1981 comedy on DVD and I laughed a lot. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Recrutas da Pesada" ("Rough Recruiters")
Near the graduation, the clumsy and imbecile Captain Stillman (John Larroquette) provokes an accident and Sergeant Hulka is wounded; however, John uses his leadership and the general is impressed with the platoon and assigns the group to go to Italy with the prototype of an armored car. John and Russell are responsible to take care of the prototype, but they date Stella and Louise. Meanwhile Captain Stillman believes that they have stolen the vehicle and crosses the Iron Curtain with Hulka's platoon and they are captured by the communist. Sergeant Hulka escapes and releases a distress signal and John, Russell, Stella and Louise decide to help to rescue their friends from Czechoslovakia.
"Stripes" is a silly and funny comedy, but what else could I expect from a cast with the names of Bill Murray, John Candy, John Larroquette and the other comedians. The extended cut is long and most of the jokes are "politically incorrect" or sexists, but also hilarious. This is the first time that I see this 1981 comedy on DVD and I laughed a lot. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Recrutas da Pesada" ("Rough Recruiters")
Not very funny but Murray is good
bob the moo11 January 2004
On the same day as he quits his job as a taxi driver, John Winger's girlfriend dumps him for someone who has drive and a willingness to grow. Looking at their directionless lives, both John and friend Russell decide to enlist in the army to become men. Despite hating the regime, both men do surprisingly well - a fact which leads them to a project in Italy.
The plot here is pretty basic and has been done many times before and since - wise ass joins the army and mocks it before eventually making good in his own way. The film is split into two; the boot camp being the first and the mission in Italy being the second. The first part treads familiar ground reasonably well without ever being very funny. The second part is absurd and is far too silly to really be funny. Plot didn't so much matter to me as long as I was laughing quite a lot but sadly I wasn't and the scripted gags and scenarios just felt tired, daft or both.
What saved the film from being bad was a great lead from Murray. He shows himself to a great comic touch and this film was part of his breakthrough to films. He doesn't have that many great lines but his delivery and his wise-ass delivery really does the job. Ramis looks less assured and doesn't seem to be taking it very serious (but not in a good way). He seems unsure of himself in front of the camera and gives a poor performance. Oates is good and both Candy and Reinhold are pretty funny. Young has a small role and isn't annoying - so that's good then!
Overall this is a silly comedy that might win you over if you are really in the mood and happy to accept less. However I found it to be rather too daft to be funny and didn't laugh at great deal. If you aren't sold on the silly comedy during the boot camp then the second half with a mobile home acting as an urban assault vehicle will just leave you cold. Murray is as good as he usually is but the film just ain't that good.
The plot here is pretty basic and has been done many times before and since - wise ass joins the army and mocks it before eventually making good in his own way. The film is split into two; the boot camp being the first and the mission in Italy being the second. The first part treads familiar ground reasonably well without ever being very funny. The second part is absurd and is far too silly to really be funny. Plot didn't so much matter to me as long as I was laughing quite a lot but sadly I wasn't and the scripted gags and scenarios just felt tired, daft or both.
What saved the film from being bad was a great lead from Murray. He shows himself to a great comic touch and this film was part of his breakthrough to films. He doesn't have that many great lines but his delivery and his wise-ass delivery really does the job. Ramis looks less assured and doesn't seem to be taking it very serious (but not in a good way). He seems unsure of himself in front of the camera and gives a poor performance. Oates is good and both Candy and Reinhold are pretty funny. Young has a small role and isn't annoying - so that's good then!
Overall this is a silly comedy that might win you over if you are really in the mood and happy to accept less. However I found it to be rather too daft to be funny and didn't laugh at great deal. If you aren't sold on the silly comedy during the boot camp then the second half with a mobile home acting as an urban assault vehicle will just leave you cold. Murray is as good as he usually is but the film just ain't that good.
Stripes
jboothmillard19 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
From director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters, Twins, Evolution) is this modest army comedy. Basically John Winger (Bill Murray) is a quick-witted cab driver, well mainly ambitious loser, and his friend Russell Ziskey (alos co-writing, Harold Ramis) is no different as a foreign people's English teacher. They see an advert for the army, and decide to join more as a joke than a career. They soon start basic training under the hard-nosed, impatient and no nonsense Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates). Other 'goofballs' of this platoon include overweight Dewey 'Ox' Oxberger (John Candy), naive Cruiser (John Diehl), constantly stoned Elmo (Judge Reinhold) and appropriately nick-named Francis 'Psycho' Soyer (Conrad Dunn). After an accident causes Hulka to be unable to lead, Winger takes over, and with a new (obviously humorous) demonstration they impress the generals. Winger and Ziskey also find time to romance two pretty female MPs, Stella Hansen (Halloween's P.J. Soles) and Louise Cooper (Sean Young). Later, they commandeer a high-tech military vehicle disguised as a camper van fro a weekend away, and doing this stumble into an international incident. Now they are obviously fighting the enemy, and trying to get out alive, and in the end are all obviously praised as heroes, and individually put on magazine covers. Also starring John Larroquette as Capt. Stillman, John Voldstad as Corporal, Stillman's aide, Lance LeGault as Col. Glass, Roberta Leighton as Anita and Antone Pagan as Hector. There may not be many hilarious jokes, but I can see what the critics mean by this being Murray's breakthrough, and the platoon marching and singing Manfred Man's Do Wah Diddy Diddy is fun. Worth watching!
A bit too silly at times but plenty of laughs make this military comedy worth watching
Tweekums15 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
John Winger's life is not going to plan; he quits his job, his car is repossessed, his girlfriend has left him and he is about to lose his apartment
it is time for something different so he persuades his friend Russell Ziskey that what they need to do is enlist in the US Army. They find themselves in a platoon of similar misfits under the instruction of Sgt Hulka commanded by Capt. Stillman. Hulka is unimpressed by his platoon; especially Winger whose attitude is not what the military expects. Somehow they manage to pass basic training and the platoon is posted to Italy where they are to be the first troops to use the Army's latest vehicle
an armed and armoured RV! While there Winger and Ziskey decide to take the vehicle to see their girlfriends, a pair of female MPs, in West Germany. Stillman thinks they must be working for the Russians and takes the rest of the platoon to find them; unfortunately a map reading error takes them into Czechoslovakia
it will be up to Winger, Ziskey and their girlfriends to rescue them; preferably without starting a war in the process.
This film is pretty funny most of the time even if it does get a bit too silly at times. If one hopes for a vaguely believable story you will be disappointed; just about everything is played for laughs and with the exception of Sgt Hulka it is hard to believe that any of the characters would progress as far as they have in the Army; the recruits don't get moulded into believable soldiers; Capt. Stillman is clearly incompetent from the start and it is unlikely that the two female MPs would keep getting Winger and Ziskey out of trouble this isn't really a problem though because they more than enough laughs. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis are on good form as Winger and Ziskey and Warren Oates impresses as Sgt Hulka. The rest of the cast, which includes quite a familiar faces, is pretty solid too. The story has the sort of gags that would probably appeal to all ages but some swearing and gratuitous nudity mean it is only really suitable for older viewers. Overall I found this to be good silly fun, not a must see but worth watching if you are a fan of Bill Murray.
These comments are based on watching the 'Extended Cut' version of the film.
This film is pretty funny most of the time even if it does get a bit too silly at times. If one hopes for a vaguely believable story you will be disappointed; just about everything is played for laughs and with the exception of Sgt Hulka it is hard to believe that any of the characters would progress as far as they have in the Army; the recruits don't get moulded into believable soldiers; Capt. Stillman is clearly incompetent from the start and it is unlikely that the two female MPs would keep getting Winger and Ziskey out of trouble this isn't really a problem though because they more than enough laughs. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis are on good form as Winger and Ziskey and Warren Oates impresses as Sgt Hulka. The rest of the cast, which includes quite a familiar faces, is pretty solid too. The story has the sort of gags that would probably appeal to all ages but some swearing and gratuitous nudity mean it is only really suitable for older viewers. Overall I found this to be good silly fun, not a must see but worth watching if you are a fan of Bill Murray.
These comments are based on watching the 'Extended Cut' version of the film.
Just one in a string of Murray/Ramis classic comedies.
TxMike4 June 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Harold Ramis absolutely cannot strike a pose without a glint in his eye and a rye smile on his face. He is just filled with "funny". We owe him Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, Groundhog Day, and this movie, "Stripes." Take ordinary human conditions, and turn them into something interesting and funny.
Bill Murray is John Winger and Harold Ramis is Russell Ziskey, a couple of slackers trying to keep gainful employment and make ends meet. In the one day that begins this movie, Winger quits his cabbie job, abandoning a stuffy lady on the bridge, gets his car repossessed, and has his girlfriend leave him. At the shoe shine shop, watching an "Uncle Sam Wants You" TV spot, he convinces his buddy Ziskey that they would do better by enlisting in the Army. After all, free food and free clothes! Warren Oates is in fine form as drill Sgt. Hulka. P.J. Soles as Stella Hansen and Sean Young as Louise Cooper, both MPs on base, serve as the love interests of the two men. John Candy is one of the raw recruits, 'Ox' Oxberger, while John Larroquette is good as the neurotic and useless Capt. Stillman.
I watched it with Emily, a recent high school graduate who is enrolling at West Point this summer, as her introduction to basic training in the Army!
SPOILERS: Hulka gets injured by a wayward projectile, and the guys have to train themselves the final night before the graduation review. They are unpolished, but disciplined, and so impress the general that they are sent to Italy on special assignment. Winger and Ziskey, as usual, get everyone in a bind, in an unauthorized venture into Communist Czek territory, but Winger and Ziskey also come to the rescue.
Bill Murray is John Winger and Harold Ramis is Russell Ziskey, a couple of slackers trying to keep gainful employment and make ends meet. In the one day that begins this movie, Winger quits his cabbie job, abandoning a stuffy lady on the bridge, gets his car repossessed, and has his girlfriend leave him. At the shoe shine shop, watching an "Uncle Sam Wants You" TV spot, he convinces his buddy Ziskey that they would do better by enlisting in the Army. After all, free food and free clothes! Warren Oates is in fine form as drill Sgt. Hulka. P.J. Soles as Stella Hansen and Sean Young as Louise Cooper, both MPs on base, serve as the love interests of the two men. John Candy is one of the raw recruits, 'Ox' Oxberger, while John Larroquette is good as the neurotic and useless Capt. Stillman.
I watched it with Emily, a recent high school graduate who is enrolling at West Point this summer, as her introduction to basic training in the Army!
SPOILERS: Hulka gets injured by a wayward projectile, and the guys have to train themselves the final night before the graduation review. They are unpolished, but disciplined, and so impress the general that they are sent to Italy on special assignment. Winger and Ziskey, as usual, get everyone in a bind, in an unauthorized venture into Communist Czek territory, but Winger and Ziskey also come to the rescue.
Bill Murray's Stripes can still be pretty entertaining to me after all these years
tavm30 June 2010
Having just reviewed the first three movies that was co-written by Harold Ramis, not to mention the first three of his that also starred at least one SNL cast member-former or present at the time-we're now at his fourth of both categories and also his first in which he also appears. As with the previous two-Meatballs and Caddyshack-Stripes also stars Bill Murray. Also, as with Meatballs, Ramis' co-writers here are Len Blum and Dan Goldberg with Ivan Reitman once again directing. They make a good team here, Murray and Ramis, as they end up joining the Army mainly because of the former's bad luck in his last two hours as a civilian. Among the people they encounter in basic training: Judge Reinhold and John Candy who was familiar with both Bill and Harold since they all worked for Second City during the '70s while Candy and Ramis were on SCTV together as well. Anyway, they have a tough sergeant in Warren Oates who provides at least one serious scene with Murray when he tells him what he really thinks of him. But there's also John Larroquette as a bumbling captain who's threatened with Artic duty if he doesn't shape up. Oh, and besides Ramis and Candy, other Second City/SCTV members in this movie include Dave Thomas as a mud wrestling host and Joe Flaherty as a Russian guard. And finally, Ramis and Murray fall for a couple of female MP's played by Sean Young and P. J. Soles, respectively. Okay, with all that out of the way, I'll just say that I found Stripes hilarious up to the graduation and not as much after that but still pretty entertaining. Now, despite that earlier confrontation scene between Murray and Oates, one doesn't really expect too much learning about Army life on the former's part but part of me did feel he genuinely respected the sergeant and vice versa at the end. One more thing, while you can no longer be asked if you're a homosexual when applying for the military because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", I still found it hilarious hearing Bill and Harold's replies. Okay, so on that note, I definitely recommend Stripes. And, remember, "There she was just a-walkin' down the street singing "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy Dumb Diddy Doo..." P.S. Larroquette is a native of New Orleans which is a two-hour drive from my current hometown of Baton Rouge, La. And his assistant is played by John Volstad who is best known as one of the Darryls on "Newhart" and unlike there, he has lines here which was interesting to hear. Update 7/2/10: I've just seen the extended version with 18 minutes of cut footage. There's a funny scene of Bill and Harold ending up in another country when they go AWOL. There's also a sexily funny one of them with P.J. and Sean in Germany. Those I wished had stayed. The others I'm glad they cut.
Disappointing
ComedyFan20105 April 2018
Considering that this movie has great names, is a classic from the happy times, has a fun topic and came out when people made jokes to be funny, not politically correct I thought this movie would be great.
And it actually started this way. The beginning, them enlisting and getting to know each other was very funny. But the movie kind of died after the main characters hooked up with the girls. Starting there I was not really interested in the story and barely laughed.
Most actors didn't live up to the quality I know them. Not that they were horrible but not outstanding. I just really liked John Candy. He seemed to be so different from the way I always know him but as hilarious as always.
And it actually started this way. The beginning, them enlisting and getting to know each other was very funny. But the movie kind of died after the main characters hooked up with the girls. Starting there I was not really interested in the story and barely laughed.
Most actors didn't live up to the quality I know them. Not that they were horrible but not outstanding. I just really liked John Candy. He seemed to be so different from the way I always know him but as hilarious as always.
Uncle Sam Wants Topless Women
wes-connors12 March 2011
Louisville, Kentucky cab driver Bill Murray (as John Winger) loses his job, car, and sexy blonde girlfriend. After watching a TV recruitment ad, Mr. Murray decides to join the U.S. Army. Joining Murray is cheerful chum Harold Ramis (as Russell Ziskey), who has been working as an English instructor. They are accepted for basic training at Fort Knox (as Fort Arnold)
and hi-jinks ensue
Warren Oates takes his turn as the loud-mouthed drill sergeant. John Candy (as Dewey "Ox" Oxburger) plays the fat recruit - you'll see him mud-wrestle several of the film's topless highlights...
This popular movie needs reevaluation. It's really a low point in the line of "SCTV" and "SNL" influenced and/or inspired films begun in the 1970s. Probably, the reason is that filmmakers did nothing out of the ordinary with an overused storyline. Many "Second City" segments are funnier - compare, for example, the SCTV "English for Beginners" skit with Mr. Ramis' opening scene. In spite, "Stripes" had a catchy sing-a-long and lines to use effectively in TV commercials. Critics who were behind the curve on better comedies took the chance to write a few kind words. That's the fact, Jack.
**** Stripes (6/26/81) Ivan Reitman ~ Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, John Candy
This popular movie needs reevaluation. It's really a low point in the line of "SCTV" and "SNL" influenced and/or inspired films begun in the 1970s. Probably, the reason is that filmmakers did nothing out of the ordinary with an overused storyline. Many "Second City" segments are funnier - compare, for example, the SCTV "English for Beginners" skit with Mr. Ramis' opening scene. In spite, "Stripes" had a catchy sing-a-long and lines to use effectively in TV commercials. Critics who were behind the curve on better comedies took the chance to write a few kind words. That's the fact, Jack.
**** Stripes (6/26/81) Ivan Reitman ~ Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, John Candy
Tons of fun
BandSAboutMovies13 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
On his way to the premiere of Meatballs, Ivan Reitman got a great idea: Cheech and Chong join the army. He pitched it to Paramount Pictures and they greenlit the film instantly. The stoner duo's manager loved the movie, but they wanted full creative control. That's when Reitman got another great idea. He decided to revise the script for Bill Murray and Harold Ramis.
Within a few hours, John Winger (Murray) loses his job, his apartment, his car and his girlfriend. So he does what anyone else would do. He talks his friend Russell (Ramis) into joining the army.
After getting treated like, well, rookies by Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates) and angering Captain Stillman (John Larroquette), our men at least get some romance from MPs Louise Cooper and Stella Hansen (Sean Young and PJ Soles, who gets "the Aunt Jemima treatment," a scene that Murray totally improved making her reaction genuine).
There's a great cast here, with Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty and John Candy joining Ramis from SCTV, as well as Judge Reinhold and even a brief part for Bill Paxton. John Diehl is also pretty awesome as Cruiser.
By the way, that scene where John Candy gets his head shaved? He had no idea it was going to happen. That's why he looks so depressed when he picks his hair up.
Within a few hours, John Winger (Murray) loses his job, his apartment, his car and his girlfriend. So he does what anyone else would do. He talks his friend Russell (Ramis) into joining the army.
After getting treated like, well, rookies by Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates) and angering Captain Stillman (John Larroquette), our men at least get some romance from MPs Louise Cooper and Stella Hansen (Sean Young and PJ Soles, who gets "the Aunt Jemima treatment," a scene that Murray totally improved making her reaction genuine).
There's a great cast here, with Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty and John Candy joining Ramis from SCTV, as well as Judge Reinhold and even a brief part for Bill Paxton. John Diehl is also pretty awesome as Cruiser.
By the way, that scene where John Candy gets his head shaved? He had no idea it was going to happen. That's why he looks so depressed when he picks his hair up.
An Army of Laughers
tedg14 March 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers herein.
I'm convinced that comedians don't so much find what is funny, they invent it. Because it comes from comedians, we laugh. Humor is not timeless but always mutating depending on who the leaders are. In this way, we are simple recruits in the army of laughers. We may complain, but there it is.
The Marx brothers are still funny, but for different reasons. It would be better to say that they are funny again. When I first saw `Stripes,' I thought it hilarious. Now it seems not even campy.
Why is this? My own theory is that Bill Murray learned his craft just when overt irony was fashionable. This was after Lenny Bruce could be pure by being profane and before we got into nostalgic humor. So he developed his routines around the notions of not being the character. This is his purest: a cool guy who is not cool, knows it and believes that not cool IS cool. Its reverse Austin Powers, who we're supposed to laugh at. Here, we're supposed to laugh at being made to laugh.
It was a gas then.
Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.
I'm convinced that comedians don't so much find what is funny, they invent it. Because it comes from comedians, we laugh. Humor is not timeless but always mutating depending on who the leaders are. In this way, we are simple recruits in the army of laughers. We may complain, but there it is.
The Marx brothers are still funny, but for different reasons. It would be better to say that they are funny again. When I first saw `Stripes,' I thought it hilarious. Now it seems not even campy.
Why is this? My own theory is that Bill Murray learned his craft just when overt irony was fashionable. This was after Lenny Bruce could be pure by being profane and before we got into nostalgic humor. So he developed his routines around the notions of not being the character. This is his purest: a cool guy who is not cool, knows it and believes that not cool IS cool. Its reverse Austin Powers, who we're supposed to laugh at. Here, we're supposed to laugh at being made to laugh.
It was a gas then.
Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.
Do wah
bevo-136782 April 2020
Unfunny, boring and sexist
preppy-39 January 2011
Inexplicably popular "comedy". John (Bill Murray) and Russell (Harold Ramis) are two idiots who have no direction or reason in life. They decide to join the Army thinking it's a way to make easy money. They get stuck with a group of utterly annoying and unfunny guys (who the audience is supposed to find hysterical) and a tough as nails drill Sgt (Warren Oates). Naturally John is constantly cracking "funny" one liners and screwing up deliberately left and right. None of it is funny at all. Then, at the end, it inexplicably turns into an army drama!
This was a huge hut in 1981 and its popularity totally escapes me. I didn't like it back then and I still don't like it now. I should point that, personally, I never found Murray that funny. His blank face and obnoxious manner made me annoyed with him more than anything else. This movie does nothing to change my view. Basically the movie just isn't funny! I didn't smile (let alone laugh) once! Each joke fizzled out completely or they give us these somewhat interesting characters and NEVER build on them! When you get John Candy and Daniel Stern in a movie and even THEY'RE not funny something is seriously wrong. Worst of all is John Larroquette as Capt. Stillman. EVERY scene with his is terribly unfunny. And WHAT was the thinking of turning it into a generic action film at the end??
It's also incredibly sexist. You have the incredibly beautiful women P.J. Soles and Sean Young as MPs. Naturally they meet Murray and Ramis and let them get away with murder and almost immediately have sex with them. That's just pushing credibility WAY too far. The absolute low point is a pointless and downright revolting mud wrestling match when Candy is wrestling with five bikini clad beautiful women. Naturally he (inexplicably) gets ALL their tops off and waves them around! The two good points are Oates (giving a GREAT performance) and a bombastic score. Why this movie was such a big hit is beyond me. A 1 all the way.
This was a huge hut in 1981 and its popularity totally escapes me. I didn't like it back then and I still don't like it now. I should point that, personally, I never found Murray that funny. His blank face and obnoxious manner made me annoyed with him more than anything else. This movie does nothing to change my view. Basically the movie just isn't funny! I didn't smile (let alone laugh) once! Each joke fizzled out completely or they give us these somewhat interesting characters and NEVER build on them! When you get John Candy and Daniel Stern in a movie and even THEY'RE not funny something is seriously wrong. Worst of all is John Larroquette as Capt. Stillman. EVERY scene with his is terribly unfunny. And WHAT was the thinking of turning it into a generic action film at the end??
It's also incredibly sexist. You have the incredibly beautiful women P.J. Soles and Sean Young as MPs. Naturally they meet Murray and Ramis and let them get away with murder and almost immediately have sex with them. That's just pushing credibility WAY too far. The absolute low point is a pointless and downright revolting mud wrestling match when Candy is wrestling with five bikini clad beautiful women. Naturally he (inexplicably) gets ALL their tops off and waves them around! The two good points are Oates (giving a GREAT performance) and a bombastic score. Why this movie was such a big hit is beyond me. A 1 all the way.
STRIPES {Extended Version} (Ivan Reitman, 1981) **1/2
Bunuel197624 January 2010
Having spent my childhood in the 1980s, I am somewhat partial to films from that era; with this in mind, I like to re-acquaint myself with popular titles of that vintage
or, conversely, catch up with ones I missed out on (for instance, I recently enjoyed that Thanksgiving 'classic' PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES [1987]) – even at this distance. This military comedy, then, falls in the latter category: unfortunately, it is not among the better comedies to have emerged during this time. As indicated, I watched the extended edition of the film which, at 123 minutes, is grossly overlong for this type of fare – even if the added footage (about 16 minutes' worth) is not merely filler material. Also, it deals with a milieu which had been treaded all-too-frequently over the years – which makes the whole exercise somewhat predictable, tiresome and downright pointless! Besides, I have never warmed to Bill Murray's arrogant, narcissistic and self-satisfied personality; the supporting cast includes other exponents of '80s comedies – namely Harold Ramis (serving also as co-writer and who would re-unite with Murray and director Reitman for the GHOSTBUSTERS movies), John Candy and Judge Reinhold (from the POLICE ACADEMY series). Somewhat surprisingly, Warren Oates takes on the predictably tough role of the D.I. – who, naturally, engages in a battle-of-wills with the rebellious Murray and even has to contend with an incompetent superior of his own. Again, it comes as no surprise at all that Murray (and Ramis) become involved with a couple of girls (HALLOWEEN's P.J. Soles and a pre-stardom Sean Young respectively). The last third of the film resolves itself into an elaborate action sequence as the two couples, who had decided to take a holiday in Germany driving a bullet-proof van armed with missiles (the army's latest secret weapon), find themselves having to rescue the rest of their unit who had gone after them and have ended up incarcerated in Communist Czechoslovakia! Mind you, the film is watchable enough for what it is – even if one could hardly call it memorable or even hilarious – but the various elements do not really jell together.
You can't go. All the plants are gonna die.
lastliberal29 September 2007
He quit his job and lost his girlfriend. before Lost in Translation and Broken Flowers, he was just a wacky pain-in-the-ass recruit that gave Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates) nightmares. When it comes to comedy Bill Murray is a winner hands down.
Add in John Candy; John Larroquette as the peeping Capt. Stillman; Judge Reinhold; Harold Ramis; the quick peep at Roberta Leighton; and the hot Lois Hamilton and you have a military comedy of errors that will keep you in stitches.
Of course there is a lot of beautiful scenery in this film in the showers and in the mud pit.
Add in John Candy; John Larroquette as the peeping Capt. Stillman; Judge Reinhold; Harold Ramis; the quick peep at Roberta Leighton; and the hot Lois Hamilton and you have a military comedy of errors that will keep you in stitches.
Of course there is a lot of beautiful scenery in this film in the showers and in the mud pit.
One of Bill Murray's First Box Office Action Comedies!
zardoz-136 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
"Meatballs" director Ivan Reitman scored his first major hit with this formulaic adventure comedy about a pair of civilian misfits who momentarily take leave of their senses and join the U.S. Army. Cab driver John Winger (Bill Murray) experiences one hideously terrible day when he loses his job, watches helpless as his car is repossessed, and his girlfriend walks out on him. In a fit of lunacy, Winger persuades his best friend Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis), who teaches English as a second language, that they can "be all that they can be" if they enlist in the U.S. Army. Essentially, this uneven but hilarious spoof about military service succeeds because of Murray's outlandish sense of humor and "Magnificent Seven" composer Elmer Bernstein's exhilarating score. No sooner have Winger and Russell gotten to boot camp than they confront their worst nightmare, crusty old drill sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates of "The Wild Bunch") who hates Winger's smart aleck sense of humor. Hulka has Winger doing push-ups to straighten him out. When our misguided heroes try to go A.W.O.L., they encounter two sexy Army MPs, Stella (P.J. Soles of "Jawbreaker") and Louise (Sean Young of "Blade Runner") who bring them back alive. Meanwhile, our heroes have an incompetent officer, Captain Stillman (John Larroquette of "Blind Date"), doing his best to berate them. The platoon that Winger and Russell land in consists of misfits, such as the overweight Ox (John Candy of "Spaceballs"), witless Cruiser (future "Miami Vice" regular John Diehl), wacky Elmo (Judge Reinhold of "Beverly Hills Cop"), and sneering Psycho (Conrad Dunn of "Jumpin' Jack Flash").
Most of what follows is predictable. Nevertheless, Bill Murray's improvisation skills serves him splendidly, particularly his "big toe" speech in the barracks. Of course, Sgt. Hulka and Winger don't see eye-to-eye, and Hulka uses Winger's insolence to punish the entire platoon. This is about the time that they have their first date with Stella and Louise. At one point, pompous Captain Stillman wants to make our heroes repeat boot camp, after they embarrass him during a fight at a nightclub that sponsors mud wrestling with bodacious babes in skimpy attire. The night before graduation, Winger and Russell train their Army buddies how to perform complicated rifle movements so they can impress General Barnicke (Robert J. Wilke of "The Hallelujah Trail") and they succeed in amazing the general with their adept rifle spinning skills. Indeed, General Barnicke is so impressed that he orders Stillman and his men to fly to West Germany and participate in his top-secret project involving a multi-faceted EM-59 Urban Assault Vehicle. Hulka gives everybody else weekend passes, but he orders Winger and Russell to remain behind on base and guard the EM-59, a 1970s GMC recreational motor vehicle equipped with technology galore, including a missile firing system. Stillman takes his blond babe of a girlfriend to show her the vehicle late one evening and discovers to his horror that the vehicle is missing. Winger and Russell have appropriated the recreational vehicle so that they can take Stella and Louise on a date. According to the sentry, Winger and company took the vehicle out to get it washed.
Meanwhile, Stillman rounds up the platoon and they pursue Winger and company, except that they take a wrong turn and wind up in the Soviet Bloc where they are captured and subjected to torture. Although he advised Stillman against a rescue operation, Hulka joins Stillman but later leaps off the truck transporting Stillman and company after Winger and Russell. Our heroes pick up Hulka's distress signal and plunge into the Soviet Bloc in their souped up, military SUV, blow up a guard tower, and rescue their buddies. This action-packed finale marks "Stripes" as an anti-communist movie as out heroes along with Stella and Louise get the drop on the poor border guards at the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and Winger ties them up and puts on a Czech uniform. A pitched battle rages as Winger and Stella, armed with machine guns, breaks Stillman and the platoon out, and hightail it back across the border. Along the way, Sgt. Hulka leaps onto the roof of the motorhome and rides out with them. Ultimately, Stillman is transferred to to a weather station near Nome, Alaska, while Winger, Russell, Hulka, Stella, and Louise come home to a hero's welcome. Ironically, in "A-Team" fashion, nobody is seen either getting shot-up or killed during Winger's raid.
Most of what follows is predictable. Nevertheless, Bill Murray's improvisation skills serves him splendidly, particularly his "big toe" speech in the barracks. Of course, Sgt. Hulka and Winger don't see eye-to-eye, and Hulka uses Winger's insolence to punish the entire platoon. This is about the time that they have their first date with Stella and Louise. At one point, pompous Captain Stillman wants to make our heroes repeat boot camp, after they embarrass him during a fight at a nightclub that sponsors mud wrestling with bodacious babes in skimpy attire. The night before graduation, Winger and Russell train their Army buddies how to perform complicated rifle movements so they can impress General Barnicke (Robert J. Wilke of "The Hallelujah Trail") and they succeed in amazing the general with their adept rifle spinning skills. Indeed, General Barnicke is so impressed that he orders Stillman and his men to fly to West Germany and participate in his top-secret project involving a multi-faceted EM-59 Urban Assault Vehicle. Hulka gives everybody else weekend passes, but he orders Winger and Russell to remain behind on base and guard the EM-59, a 1970s GMC recreational motor vehicle equipped with technology galore, including a missile firing system. Stillman takes his blond babe of a girlfriend to show her the vehicle late one evening and discovers to his horror that the vehicle is missing. Winger and Russell have appropriated the recreational vehicle so that they can take Stella and Louise on a date. According to the sentry, Winger and company took the vehicle out to get it washed.
Meanwhile, Stillman rounds up the platoon and they pursue Winger and company, except that they take a wrong turn and wind up in the Soviet Bloc where they are captured and subjected to torture. Although he advised Stillman against a rescue operation, Hulka joins Stillman but later leaps off the truck transporting Stillman and company after Winger and Russell. Our heroes pick up Hulka's distress signal and plunge into the Soviet Bloc in their souped up, military SUV, blow up a guard tower, and rescue their buddies. This action-packed finale marks "Stripes" as an anti-communist movie as out heroes along with Stella and Louise get the drop on the poor border guards at the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and Winger ties them up and puts on a Czech uniform. A pitched battle rages as Winger and Stella, armed with machine guns, breaks Stillman and the platoon out, and hightail it back across the border. Along the way, Sgt. Hulka leaps onto the roof of the motorhome and rides out with them. Ultimately, Stillman is transferred to to a weather station near Nome, Alaska, while Winger, Russell, Hulka, Stella, and Louise come home to a hero's welcome. Ironically, in "A-Team" fashion, nobody is seen either getting shot-up or killed during Winger's raid.
Boot camp blunders
Calicodreamin3 November 2021
One of my favorite comedies!
Boba_Fett113815 July 2005
How to best describe this movie? Like "Police Academy" set in the army...only than about a million times funnier.
This movie shows once more what an incredible comical genius Bill Murray is. I can't imaging how this movie would had been without him...the answer probably is just plain bad. Murray is able to say the weirdest and silliest things with a serious face, I absolutely love it! I also just love the way he's improvising in some scene's. Murray is helped by mainly three other great comical actors; Harold Ramis, John Candy and Warren Oates. They are really the one's that carry this movie and make it a hilarious one!
As for the story itself, it isn't that good or appealing. The movie is beginning good and also the whole basic training is just hilarious and highly enjoyable to watch. But after that the movie maybe is taking itself a bit too serious and the story only distracts from Murray's antics. I also wouldn't had mind seeing Stella and Louise being cut out of the movie.
Still none of that prevents this movie from being one of the most enjoyable one's ever made. It's not just constantly funny, it's also absolutely hilarious at times!
The Elmer Bernstein musical score is underrated and worth listening to, if it was more world widely available for sale.
I have yet to meet a person who didn't like watching "Stripes". It's an absolute comedy must-see!
8/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
This movie shows once more what an incredible comical genius Bill Murray is. I can't imaging how this movie would had been without him...the answer probably is just plain bad. Murray is able to say the weirdest and silliest things with a serious face, I absolutely love it! I also just love the way he's improvising in some scene's. Murray is helped by mainly three other great comical actors; Harold Ramis, John Candy and Warren Oates. They are really the one's that carry this movie and make it a hilarious one!
As for the story itself, it isn't that good or appealing. The movie is beginning good and also the whole basic training is just hilarious and highly enjoyable to watch. But after that the movie maybe is taking itself a bit too serious and the story only distracts from Murray's antics. I also wouldn't had mind seeing Stella and Louise being cut out of the movie.
Still none of that prevents this movie from being one of the most enjoyable one's ever made. It's not just constantly funny, it's also absolutely hilarious at times!
The Elmer Bernstein musical score is underrated and worth listening to, if it was more world widely available for sale.
I have yet to meet a person who didn't like watching "Stripes". It's an absolute comedy must-see!
8/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
Was Bill Murray Ever Funny?
view_and_review7 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
If the first question is: was Bill Murray ever funny, then the second question has to be: has he ever starred in a movie in which he didn't molest a woman into submission. His wooing process always consists of badgering a woman until she yields and realizes he's the man for her.
In this movie it was particularly absurd. At first sight of the attractive and softly assertive female MP officer I knew what her eventual role would be. All professionalism and protocol went out the window under the hypnotic charm (read pestering bordering on sexual assault) of Bill Murray. It would be bearable if it were funny or cute but it was neither.
Absurdity was par for the course for this witless depiction of the Army. Bill Murray did his best impression of class clown which was more suited for a high school movie than a movie about adults in the Army. The rest of the actors may as well had been stage props because that's all they really amounted to.
If rampant idiocy and slapstick humor is your bag, then enjoy.
In this movie it was particularly absurd. At first sight of the attractive and softly assertive female MP officer I knew what her eventual role would be. All professionalism and protocol went out the window under the hypnotic charm (read pestering bordering on sexual assault) of Bill Murray. It would be bearable if it were funny or cute but it was neither.
Absurdity was par for the course for this witless depiction of the Army. Bill Murray did his best impression of class clown which was more suited for a high school movie than a movie about adults in the Army. The rest of the actors may as well had been stage props because that's all they really amounted to.
If rampant idiocy and slapstick humor is your bag, then enjoy.
Vintage Murray: "Boom-Chug-a-lugga...."; Hilarious military comedy
george.schmidt22 April 2003
STRIPES (1981) **** Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, PJ Soles, Sean Young, John Candy, Warren Oates, John Larroquette, John Diehl, Judge Reinhold, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty. Uproarious service comedy with knuckleheads Murray and Ramis enlisting in the army expecting the good life and instead getting the short end of the stick. Murray is perfectly cast as the rawest of recruits and Candy's memorable as Dewey "Ox" Oxberger. Best line: "That's the fact, Jack!" Best bits: Murray & Ramis AWOL with lovely MPS Soles & Young infiltrating a general's household ('Barnaky?? BARNAKY?! HEY he ows me money! Barnaky!') and Murray leading his new troop in a sound off to 'Doo Wah Diddy'.
See also
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