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Stripes (1981)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
8/12, 7/18
8/12:
There's no way in the history of U.S. Armed Forces that the group of ragtag buffoons in Stripes
would pass inspection and be deemed fit for military graduation.
When I saw Bill Murray doing the ridiculous military parade, I questioned if the U.S. Army sponsored the
film. AND THEY ACTUALLY DID. It's hard to believe that, after ten weeks of boot camp, nobody shaped up. So,
this is the cardinal Hollywood rule: any time you see a Bill Murray comedy, always expect unorthodox results.
Bill Murray tends to deliver either two types of performance: be a genius with bone-dry humor or act like an
arrogant jackass. In Stripes, he falls in the latter category most of the time which isn't fun to watch.
The army comedy boasts of an all-star secondary cast: Harold Ramis, John Candy, Judge Reinhold, John Diehl,
Sean Young, John Larroquette, and Warren Oates.
Typical of 80's pictures, it has plenty of female nudity including mud wrestling between John Candy and eight
naked females which is pointless and aimed to generate ticket sales. After the military graduation, things fall
apart by becoming ridiculous. I don't understand why the platoon had to go to Czechoslovakia and engage in warfare
just to retrieve a RV.
All in all, Stripes is a mix of funny and stupid with some brain-dead results.
7/18:
Taking my rating down from '6' to '3', Stripes doesn't stand the test of time.
Last time, I thought the movie was funny but stupid overall. Watching it again, I barely laughed. An
utterly moronic and boring movie, the hardest thing to believe is the U.S. Army sponsored it. Why?
Noticing the hair on Bill Murray and Harold Ramis when they initially came out of the military barbershop, I
couldn't help but fail to understand why they weren't given regular boot camp haircuts. Hence, they were given
too much latitude to retain their individuality. That's why the movie sucks in this respect.
Another thing I don't understand is the misfit platoon being handpicked for an assignment in Italy. Then,
they drove the RV to Germany while the search party got caught in Czechoslovakia, setting off an
international incident by exchanging gunfire which ironically resulted in no deaths.
Bill Murray is okay but barely funny. Harold Ramis is too smug to be likeable. John Candy is wasted. John
Larroquette is corny. Warren Oates, who died of a heart attack one year after Stripes premiered, is
both ineffective and weak as the drill sergeant. Judge Reinhold barely appears. Making his screen debut,
Miami Vice's John Diehl looks too mentally retarded to be in the army.
All in all, Stripes is a disappointing Bill Murray vehicle for an early 80's comedy film.