Stripes

"Soldier, I've noticed that you're always last."
"I'm pacing myself, Sergeant."

John (Murray) is having a bad day..."I've had an interesting morning. In the last two hours I've lost my job, my apartment, my car, and my girlfriend."  He convinces his best friend, Russell (Ramis), an English language teacher, that they should join the army.

They are placed under the command of Sergeant Hulka (Oates), a tough man with no tolerance for their shenanigans.  Hulka has the worst group of recruits, including stoner Elmo (Judge Reinhold), overweight comedian Ox (Candy), and psychotic Psycho (Conrad Dunn).  When Hulka is severely injured during basic training, this ragtag crew must pass inspection on their own, or Captain Stillman (Larroquette) will force them to start over again.  Their antics impress the General (Robert J. Wilke) and he gives them a special mission.  Can they survive the mission and get back to the attractive M.P.s, Stella (Soles) and Louise (Young), that keep getting them out of trouble?

The first film collaboration between Bill Murray and Harold Ramis.  Ramis and Murray have excellent chemistry and work well together.  A great cast and funny performances.  John Larroquette is the right amount of smarmy as Captain Stillman, who balances Warren Oates' hardcore Sergeant Hulka.

Apparently the film was made with the cooperation of the US Army.  "The U.S. Army was actually very helpful and cooperative during filming, which surprised Ivan Reitman since the script depicts the military as being made up largely of buffoons." (from imdb.com).  It isn't an anti-war or anti-military film, it is an anti-idiot film.

While the entire film is funny, the best sequence is graduation.  Check it out!

Stripes (1981) 106 minutes
Rating: R for sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use. (extended edition)
Director: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Bill Murray as John
Harold Ramis as Russell
Warren Oates as Sergeant Hulka
P.J. Soles as Stella
Sean Young as Louise
John Candy as Ox
John Larroquette as Captain Stillman