Stripes (1981)

This is not funny. It is awful. It has an awful story line. Not that people who like comedy movie care at all about a good story line. Has long they laugh. And it really does not have to be funny or people to laugh. People will laugh long before they will cry. Tell people to laugh and will laugh. Tell them cry and they will laugh ever more. If you are some who only like comedies that are really funny and have good story line see Ghost busters. If you some one I just will like any thing at is a comedy. Then you will like. this movie. Most people like something just because it a comedy. If that were not case this movie would not be so popular. This movie a piece of pooh. And if you can not see that. That is your problem not mines.

Stripes is my favorite movie from comedic genius Bill Murray. Stripes is hilarious from start to finish and this is in my opinion director Ivan Reitman's finest film work as well. Harold Ramis has excellent chemistry with Bill Murray and his character and rapport with Bill Murray is a crucial component of making this film work. Murray and Ramis give some of their most memorable performances on screen and play off each other wonderfully. Plus, I am sure behind the scenes, his writing made this excellent(when combined with Murray's brilliant improvisation). The support cast is amazing with John Candy,PJ Soles,Sean Young,John Larroquette and Judge Reinhold. Also, let's not forget about Warren Oates in a very memorable role as Sgt. Hulka. Warren Oates gives the role and film some credibility and is excellent in this role. Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and company party all the time in this comedy classic and if you don't find this movie to be funny, you probably would'nt know a good time if it was sitting on your face.

Most folks who have served in the military should enjoy this film. But for certain parts and embellishment or extension of others, it could be a great comedy. The gratuitous Hollywood sex scenes don't add to the comedy, but detract from it. I suspect that the scenes of bikini- clad women mud-wrestling would be a turn-off for many people. I'm aware of the generational and specific cultural appeal this film seemed to be designed to reach. Still, it's too bad that the filmmakers couldn't see the great possibility for a dynamite film around this plot – sans the detracting sex element. It had potential to be a very funny comedy and spoof of the military and satire of the Cold War period. The main male stars of "Stripes" are hilarious in their roles. Bill Murray is John, Harold Ramis is Russell, Warren Oates is Sgt. Hulka and John Larrouquette is Capt. Stillman. John Candy is wasted in the role of Ox. Three superb scenarios make this movie worth viewing by adults. The drill routine of the platoon for the formal military review is outstanding. The misadventure of Capt. Stillman leading some of the platoon into Soviet Czechoslovakia is hilarious, with the subsequent rescue effort by John and Russell in the secret urban assault vehicle. And the ending scene is very funny with results of the escapade for the individuals as the credits role. The plot of "Stripes" could have been developed into a great film. Instead, it provides a few hilarious sketches amidst the humdrum riffraff of sexploitation.

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.