In the Army Now (1994)

Two misguided youths join the reserves to make some money for their entrepreneurial dreams. No sooner than they finish basic training are they called up to do their part to save the free world.

Director:

Daniel Petrie Jr.

Writers:

Steve Zacharias (story), Jeff Buhai (story)

Stars:

Pauly Shore, Lori Petty, Andy Dick

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pauly Shore	...	Bones Conway
Andy Dick	...	Jack Kaufman
Lori Petty	...	Christine Jones
David Alan Grier	...	Fred Ostroff
Esai Morales	...	Sgt. Stern
Lynn Whitfield	...	Sgt. Ladd
Art LaFleur	...	1st Sgt. Brandon T. Williams
Fabiana Udenio	...	Gabriella
Glenn Morshower	...	Richard Day, Recruiting Sergeant
Beau Billingslea	...	Sgt. Daniels
Peter Spellos	...	Mr. Quinn
Barry Nolan	...	Stu Krieger
Coleen Christie	...	News Anchor Person
Ryan Cutrona	...	Colonel
Paul Mooney	...	Lt. Col. Peter Hume

Storyline

Bones and Jack are two guys with very little going right in their lives. The two decide to join the Army as part of the water purification team and eventually find themselves on the front lines in the conflict between the northern African countries of Chad and Libya. The two men, along with a few companions, have it upon themselves to save the day in combat, something they know little about.

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Plot Keywords:

military | u.s. military | shaved head | head shaving | fish out of water | 

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Taglines:

Sleep tight, America! The safety of the free world rests in his hands!

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some war action, mild language and comic sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 August 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

You're in the Army Now

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$28,864,707

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a 2017 interview with Joe Rogan, Pauly Shore admits that this film was the starting point of the downfall in his movie career. While he enjoyed making the movie, and doesn't regret doing it, he says the reason for feeling that way was that at the time this script was offered to him, he was under a contract with Disney for three films. He had already made Encino Man (1992), and Son-In Law (1993) for Disney and both had been modest box office hits for him. At the same time executives at New Line Cinema offered him a role in an ultimately unmade film called "Totally London" in which Shore would have continued a variation on his popular Weasel character. Jeffery Katzenberg CEO of Disney would not let Shore out of his contract with the studio and bought the Totally London script from New Line Cinema and decided to shelve it. Katzenberg then gave Shore the option to do this movie, but Shore's agents advised him against it because they thought the script was mediocre and since he would have to cut off all his hair in the beginning for the basic training sequences they felt audiences wouldn't accept Shore without his usual Weasel style. While he wanted to respect his agent's opinions Shore said he made the film because it was his only available choice at the time and he desperately wanted to be on a movie set because it was his passion to make movies. However he said not seriously considering his agents' advice about this film tanked his movie career. When this movie did less box office business than Encino Man and Son-In-Law Disney would not let him make anymore movies for them, and his next two films Jury Duty (1995) and Bio-Dome (1996) were box-office failures although the latter film eventually gained a big cult following.

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Goofs

At a party back home, Bones mentions to his then girlfriend that "he" (his penis) hadn't seen her in 8 weeks, yet he's apparently already fully trained in water purification. After 8 weeks of basic training, an additional 10 weeks of training is required to become a Water Treatment Specialist (the official MOS title).

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Quotes

Sgt. Ladd: This is exactly like practice, except this is a real live grenade. You will do exactly as you have been trained.
Bones: Yes, Drill Seargent!
Sgt. Ladd: When I give the command to execute, you will drop the pin and throw the grenade.
Bones: Yes, Drill Seargent!
Sgt. Ladd: Drop the pin, throw the grenade!
Bones: Yes, Drill Seargent!
Sgt. Ladd: Execute.
Bones: [Drops grenade and throws pin]
Sgt. Ladd: Move it!
Bones: Thank you, Drill Seargent, you saved my life. I owe you one.
[...]

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Alternate Versions

The TV version includes a couple of deleted scenes, including a scene in which Bones and his friends get revenge on the special forces soldiers.

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Connections

References The Addams Family (1964)

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Soundtracks

Until The Next Time
Written by John Easdale
Performed by Dramarama
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment
by arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Pauly Shore sucks, but this movie doesn't.

I am not a fan of Pauly Shore movies. I didn't like "Encino Man", I didn't like "Son-in-Law", and I didn't like "Jury Duty". I thought he was occasionally funny on MTV (he did one bit as Kennedy that had me rolling once), but I don't think he made the transition to movies well. He's made some real stinkers.

Okay. That being said, I actually DID like this movie. I even liked Pauly Shore in it. And although it probably wasn't a good movie by any standards, it had some extremely funny parts, like the part where Shore dropped the grenade and threw the pin in basic training. The premise (Shore joins the army as a water treatment specialist thinking he'll never have to go to war, but...) was an engaging one, and the foursome at the center (Shore, Lori Petty, Andy Dick, and David Alan Grier) worked well together, and seemed to be having a good time. I especially liked David Alan Grier as the dentist who was afraid of everything, and Petty was appropriately hammy as the butch girl who couldn't wait to go to war.

Overall, a decent movie, but a masterpiece by Pauly Shore movie standards.