Review of Stripes (1981) by Johnny S — 14 Sep 2010

Billy Murray, Harold Ramis and John Candy join the army. Hilarity ensues.

Okay, fine, there's more to it than that, what with them slogging through boot camp, infuriating a hardass drill sergeant and have to train themselves after their sergeant is injured in a freak mortar accident.

And THEN their squad is sent to Germany to babysit/guard a top secret military RV that Murray and Ramis steal which leads to the rest of the squad ending up in Warsaw Pact Czechoslovakia.

Honestly, the plot wanders around a LOT, but the cast, led by Murray, hold it together with enough great lines and physical comedy to get the job done right. Not really the best work of all those involved, but its still really solid screwball comedy in that way the 80's did so well.

And dig that great Elmer Bernstein score.