Major Payne (1995)

A recently discharged Major, finds himself commanding a group of mismatched Cadets.

Director:

Nick Castle

Writers:

Joe Connelly (story), Bob Mosher (story)

Stars:

Damon Wayans, Michael Ironside, Bam Bam Bigelow

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Damon Wayans	...	Maj. Benson Payne
Michael Ironside	...	Lt. Col. Stone
Bam Bam Bigelow	...	Huge Biker (as Scott Bigelow)
Joseph Blaire	...	Cadet Bryan (as Joda Blare-Hershman)
Orlando Brown	...	Cadet Kevin 'Tiger' Dunne
Peyton Chesson-Fohl	...	Cadet Sgt. Johnson
Stephen Coleman	...	Cadet Leland
Mark Conway	...	Police Sergeant
David DeHart	...	Wellington Cadet Captain
Joshua Todd Diveley	...	New Cadet
Robert Faraoni Jr.	...	Smart Ass Soldier
Michael Gabel	...	Lt. Wiseman
Albert Hall	...	Gen. Decker
William Hickey	...	Dr. Phillips
Ross Bickell	...	Col. Braggart

Storyline

Major Benson Winifred Payne is being discharged from the Marines. Payne is a killin' machine, but the wars of the world are no longer fought on the battlefield. A career Marine, he has no idea what to do as a civilian, so his commander finds him a job - commanding officer of a local school's JROTC program, a bunch or ragtag losers with no hope. Using such teaching tools as live grenades and real bullets, Payne starts to instill the Corps with some hope. But when Payne is recalled to fight in Bosnia, will he leave the Corps that has just started to believe in him, or will he find out that killin' ain't much of a livin'?

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Plot Keywords:

drill instructor | german shepherd dog | grenade | bullet | teaching | 

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Taglines:

Welcome to the House of Payne.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some crude humor and behavior

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Vietnamese

Release Date:

24 March 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Major Payne

Filming Locations:

Ashland, Virginia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,011,225, 26 March 1995, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$29,412,050

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Wife 'n' Kids

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Major Payne quotes 10 separate rhymes which are:

• Love my barracks night and day, Won't complain That's where I'll stay
• Got no worry, got no stress! 'Cause we feel good in a dress.
• Major Payne's a major diss. He makes us squat when we piss.
• Got no worries, got no care. I'm just a bald headed son of a bitch without hair.

-Used to be Samson, now I'm Ann. Gotta earn my right to be called a man.

• One! Don't you feel dumb. Two! Look at you.
• Hey Dunn you missed all the fun. Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum. What beanstalk you fall from?

Don't push the "maybes", baby.

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Goofs

Even though Major Payne did not assume the position of "At Ease" when given the command "At Ease" by General Decker and remained at the position of attention, this could be a deliberate joke to say that Major Payne's position of ease and attention is the same.

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Quotes

Major Payne: You eye me one more time I'll snatch it out and put it in Heathcoat's cookie bag!

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Connections

References Dumbo (1941)

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Soundtracks

Respect
Written by Otis Redding
Performed by Aretha Franklin
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
by arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Great comedy - a bit dark for some, though

Damon Wayans is incredible in this role. The best performance he has ever done. He totally sells out in the role. Tons of quotable lines. Tons of laugh-out-loud moments. A comedy that is as good the second time around as it is the first.

Definitely not a comedy for everyone as I have been told. I will say that if you grew up in my household or was with me in boot, you will have no option but to crack up at the expertly written parody. If you grew up in a nurturing home, this movie may just come off as mean and unrealistic. There may certainly be more to the split in likes and dislikes than this factor, as Wayans and this type of humor probably won't appeal to everyone, but I think that may certainly be a factor.