![]() Give this one a chance if you like schnitzel made from schnauzers. You may or may not have a wildly different reaction to the third act than I did, but the first two acts are worth a look in their own right. L-R: Murray, Candy, and Ramis at the forefront.Ĭomprehensively, “Stripes” is a solid way to spend a relaxing evening or afternoon if you want some laughs with a shot of thrills and excitement. Roberta Leighton, Conrad Dunn, Judge Reinhold, Antone Pagan, Glenn-Michael Jones, William Lucking Update Cast. It is worth mentioning however that some of the humor has dated rather poorly, with some blatant misogyny and homophobia, but this “politically-incorrect” humor is the exception, not the rule, in regard to the feature as a whole. Part of 8 pages of info for the 1981 movie from the award winning 80s Movies Rewind. Also entering the fray are Harold Ramis and John Candy, each bringing a signature charisma to the table which could never be replicated. The notorious RV in “Stripes.”īill Murray is undoubtedly a national treasure, with humor ranging from subtle quips and mannerisms, to over-the-top physical comedy and unrestrained expressiveness. And even the production design and authentic practical effects were impressive, considering the overall comedic focus of the story. The score from Elmer Bernstein evoked campy war film vibes, which was the exact intent. The camera movements and framing devices were nifty, and the pacing was handled well for the majority of the runtime. In terms of the film’s technical aspects, it was shot and edited far better than was necessary. Some viewers will absolutely hate this narrative shift, but for me personally, I kind of respect that the filmmakers threw caution into the wind and did whatever the heck they wanted in the final 20 minutes. It is remarkable that it works as well as it does, and this is testimony to Murray's unique talent to deliver cool humour with perfect timing.Writers: Len Blum, Dan Goldberg, and Harold Ramisįor the first two acts of this film, I was like “Man, another great throwback Bill Murray comedy! I cannot stop laughing!” Which of course was all true, but for some reason, the third act became a straight-up war film. Stripes is a one-man comedy routine expanded into a military farce. Soles and Sean Young as the Military Police officers who develop relationships with Winger and Ziskey realize early on that they need to be comely rather than convincing. Warren Oates performs his function as the crusty drill sergeant with good intentions, while P.J. A mud wrestling match between John Candy's Ox and a bevy of near-naked models is also a punch line stranded by an absence of meaningful context.Įlsewhere in the cast, Ramis proves to himself that he is no actor, his uncomfortable performance as Ziskey crossing the line from comic to incompetent. It's a nonsensical interlude, scraping by on Murray's improvisational talent and spontaneity. The thin ice of material that Stripes skates on is exemplified by a deleted sequence (restored in the Extended Cut) that has Winger and Ziskey hitch a ride on a military plane to an unnamed war zone, where they are captured by undefined heavily armed mercenaries and threatened with death, but save themselves when Winger starts singing Quando Quando Quando. But in the final 30 minutes featuring the unplanned invasion of Czechoslovakia, Stripes loses its way in a groan-inducing attempt to superimpose superfluous action onto a comedy, with mostly embarrassing results. Murray's speech to rally his platoon prior to the graduation ceremony is classic, as is the platoon's performance in the ceremony itself. When it works, Stripes delivers scenes of comic gold. Stripes sags and surges, meanders and regains focus, ultimately providing an interesting but bumpy ride. It's a sometimes fascinating viewing experience, but the struggle to create a cohesive movie out of essentially uncoordinated comedy moments is also clear. ![]() ![]() Much of Stripes was improvised on the spot, director Ivan Reitman keeping the cameras rolling while Murray made things up and the other cast members reacted. ![]() Hulka's platoon muddles its way to graduation before becoming embroiled in an unexpected incursion behind the Iron Curtain. Drill Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates) tries to make soldiers out of them, with limited success. The fellow recruits include the overweight Ox (John Candy) and an assortment of the psychotic and the dim. He convinces his friend Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) that they should join the army, and off they go to training camp. John Winger (Bill Murray) abandons his job as a taxi driver, is abandoned by his girlfriend, and has his car repossessed, all on the same day. ![]()
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