Many of the creative forces behind ANIMAL HOUSE came together to make this raunchy military comedy. Ivan Reitman directed and Harold Ramis wrote and starred in it. Reitman brought in Bill Murray who previously starred in his low-budget raunch-fest MEATBALLS. Unlike ANIMAL HOUSE there is no nostalgia to rely on and the sticking it to the establishment theme isn't as fresh. But there are some great laughs to be had and Murray is outstanding in the type of role that defines his screen persona.
John Winger (Murray, GHOSTBUSTERS) is the quintessential slacker, whose life spirals out of control after he quits his job as a cabbie. On the spur of the moment, he decides to enlist in the Army to get his life in order and convinces his best friend Russell Ziskey (Ramis, GHOSTBUSTERS), a struggling teacher, to join him. Right from the start, it seems like a big mistake as they butt heads with their gruff drill sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates, BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA) and weaselly commanding officer Capt. Stillman (John Larroquette, TV's NIGHT COURT). In between trying to shirk responsibility, John and Russell try to hook up with pretty MPs Stella (P. J. Soles, HALLOWEEN) and Louise (Sean Young, BLADE RUNNER).
The set-up of John and Russell is tightly done. His spur of the moment decision to join the military is hilarious, especially with how quickly he regrets it. During basic training, they establish a motley crew of misfits. Pvt. Dewey "Ox" Oxburger (John Candy, PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES) is a gung-ho recruit, but as an obese man, his physical appearance is far from military grade. Pvt. Elmo Blum (Judge Reinhold, BEVERLY HILLS COP) is a stoner who is so stoned he can't understand why he can't have drugs on base. Pvt. Francis "Psycho" Soyer (Conrad Dunn, ALIEN NATION) has a fitting nickname with his intense fear of people touching his stuff. Hulka's response to him is classic.
Unlike ANIMAL HOUSE where the students are trying to stick it to the stuff shirts, the same antics don't have the same impact. School officials and snobby frat boys have a hypocrisy to them that cries to be ruffled. The military has the same potential, but it's often missed here. The basic training antics are nothing special. The mud wrestling sequence is a weak cousin of the toga party in ANIMAL HOUSE. Finally, the bridge to the third act bends credibility pretty far.
The third act sends the misfit soldiers to Italy on a special mission to guard a new military weapon disguised as an RV. John and Russell steal the vehicle and head over to West Germany to visit Stella and Louise. When Stillman finds out, all hell breaks loose and an international incident is incited. The ending has a fast-paced anarchy that I wished was in the middle section. While I would have liked more direct satirical touches, the conclusion is fun with a dash of nice irony.
Murray's laidback approach is restrained hilarity. His wry observations of the silliest around him often make for the biggest laughs. His Americans are like mutts speech is classic. Ramis gives Russell the same tone, but different motivations. Murray's John has lost all interests in making his life better, but Russell refuses to let him make his life any worse. It seems Russell can't stop being pulled into John's misadventures.
The duo is the reason to the see the film in the end. It's said they improvised a great deal on set. The film was originally pitched as Cheech and Chong join the Army, but revamped by Ramis as a vehicle for Murray and him. The first script was penned by Len Blum and Daniel Goldberg and it's clear how the film struggles between the two creative forces. When the film delivers like it does in the first act, it's rapid-fire wit is like a machine gun. Some of the other parts are like misfired mortars though. But enough rounds hit their mark, especially from a sharpshooter like Murray.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
