Stripes

release year: 1981
genre: comedy
viewing setting: home Bluray 10/17/22 and home DVD 7/28/05

synopsis: An utterly irresponsible guy and his friend decide to join the Army.

impressions: This is a military comedy that is sometimes funny and sometimes tedious; my opinion seems to vacillate each time I watch it. It details the often-improbable adventures of a platoon of misfits led by a complete goofball. The only real problem with the film is that, in reality, there is no way that Bill Murray's character would have gotten away with any of his antics, even in 1981...which I guess is kind of the point.

acting: Bill Murray plays an average guy with a great sense of humor and a complete lack of any sense of responsibility. Harold Ramis is his mild-mannered pal. Warren Oates is a tough drill sergeant. John Candy is a rotund soldier.

final word: Sometimes-funny military comedy.

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