![]() ![]() That leads to the odd spectacle of Murray and Ramis, both pretty devoted anti-establishment types, appearing in a film that celebrates American exceptionalism.ĭespite the rewrites, the specters of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong still haunt Stripes. It was made with the assistance of the Army, in hopes that Stripes would help improve the military's image after the disastrous Vietnam War. Other strange undercurrents run throughout the film. (Their successful rescue is preceded by an oddly violent combat sequence which Ramis has described as " grinding anti-Communist ax" by Reitman, the son of Czech refugees.) Winger, Ziskey and the rest then return to America as heroes. In the end, Winger and Ziskey have no choice but to invade Czechoslovakia in the EM-50 to save their buddies. When Winger and Ziskey steal this to go visit their MP paramours, Hulka and the rest of the platoon go looking for them and inadvertently stray into Czechoslovakia, where they're captured. Their assignment in Europe is to guard a new armored combat Winnebago called the EM-50. Soles and Sean Young), a hard-ass sergeant named Hulka (Warren Oates), to whip them into shape, and a daffy Captain ( John Larroquette) to serve as a plot foil.Īfter some shenanigans in basic training – Hulka gets injured by a stray mortar shell, Ox mud-wrestles a bunch of women in a bar, and (in a scene cut from the original film but included in 2005's expanded DVD re-release) Winger and Ziskey join paratroopers in Latin America while Ziskey is high on LSD – the platoon gets sent to Italy. There's also a pair of gorgeous military-police officers for Winger and Ziskey to pursue (played by P.J. The two new recruits soon find themselves in a platoon of misfits, struggling through basic training.Īlongside them are: Ox ( John Candy), who joined up because it seemed like a good way to lose weight Cruiser (John Diehl), whose main attribute is his lack of intelligence Elmo (Judge Reinhold), your basic drug-loving teenager and others. Disillusioned with his job prospects and abandoned by his girlfriend because she thinks he's a loser, he convinces his best friend Russell Ziskey (Ramis), a vocational English teacher, to join the Army with him. Murray plays John Winger, a cab driver in New York City. The result is an absurd comedic romp that gives both actors plenty of room to play to their strengths. Reitman brought in Ramis after Cheech and Chong demanded complete artistic control, asking Ramis to rewrite the screenplay so that it would work for Murray – and to include a part for himself, as well. Give this one a chance if you like schnitzel made from schnauzers.Released on June 26, 1981, Stripes grew out of an initial script put together by Len Blum and Dan Goldberg. ![]() 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. 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. 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. 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. ![]()
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