Stripes *** (1981, Bill Murray, John Candy, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, P J Soles, Sean Young, Judge Reinhold, John Larroquette) – Classic Movie Review 6521

The team behind 1979’s Meatballs reconvene for director Ivan Reitman’s follow-up military spoof comedy in 1981. The results are pretty much the same. It is equally amiable, broad and fairly crass.

Bill Murray and Harold Ramis star as unhappy lads John Winger and Russell Ziskey, who fall for the US Army’s recruiting ads and sign up to see the world under the guiding hand of mean drill sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates).

Murray skates through on his blustering, cocky charm and there is reliable support in the laughs department from jolly John Candy (‘Ox’ Oxburger), sexy Sean Young (Louise), pretty P J Soles (Stella), silly John Larroquette (Captain Stillman) and juvenile Judge Reinhold (Elmo). This wayward comedy was a big moneymaker but, with its half-baked script, it barely earns its stripes, or its three stars.

Also in the cast are John Diehl, John Voldstad, Lance LeGault, Roberta Leighton, Conrad Dunn, Antone Pagan, Glenn-Michael Jones, William Lucking, Fran Ryan, Joe Flaherty, Nick Toth, Dave Thomas, Robert Klein, Robert J Wilke, Lois Hamilton, Samuel Briggs and Timothy Busfield.

It is written by Len Blum, Dan [Daniel] Goldberg and Harold Ramis, shot by Bill Butler, produced by Ivan Reitman and Dan Goldberg, scored by Elmer Bernstein and designed by James H Spencer.

Reitman followed it with Ghostbusters, Legal Eagles and Twins.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6521

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