STRIPES

"You're in the army now"

After losing his car, his job, his apartment and his girlfriend on the same day, John Winger (Murray) decides he needs a new direction in life. After a little persuading, John is talks his best friend Russell Ziskey (Ramis) into joining the Army with him, telling him it will be a great way to meet women. When they arrive at boot camp however, they find out that it isn't going to be the easy time they imaged but that isn't going to stop John and Russell from having a good time.

After the end of the Vietnam war and as the world plunged into the Cold War, the Army suddenly became funny again, well it did in 'Stripes' anyway.

When it came to comedy in the late 70s, early 80s, it was a core selection of comedians that were setting the standard for the era. Made up of ex 'Saturday Night Live' members and their friends, you had some big comedy hitters like Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy but chief amongst these was Bill Murray. The man could make you laugh with just a look, as he created wild and crazy rebellious character that everyman wanted to be and every woman wanted to be with. John Winger was one of these characters.

A slacker in the extreme, Winger realises that he has to sort his life out and find some direction. The Army could be the solution but when he gets there he falls back into his own routines. Conflict erupts between him and drill instructor Sgt. Hulka (played excellently by Warren Coates), as Winger tries to become the joker in the pack and the platoon soon become labelled the worst on the base. This is the kind of role that Murray really made his own back then. The rebellious risk taker soon became a firm favourite with fans and Murray became a huge box office draw.

Joining him on his military escapade are two talented comedic stars of the time, Harold Ramis and the late, great John Candy. As well as co-writing Stripes, Ramis is also a good comedic actor who has the slightly more intelligent guy down to a tee. As Russell Ziskey he plays the charming influence to Murray's John Winger but still manages to be an intelligent, lazy slacker just like his friend. John Candy plays Ox, who joins the Army to lose come weight. This is a role that Candy really made his own for his tragically cut short career. Always making fun of himself but a loveable character, Candy was a very talented comedic actor. When you add in good performances from P.J. Soles, Sean Young, John Larroquette and a young Judge Reinhold, you have potential for comedic exploits a plenty.

'Stripes' fitted in with the new wave of comedy that hit the cinemas in the late 70s and 80s with its outrageous look at one of American great institutions, the Army. With its tongue planted firmly in its cheek and only been slightly dated because of the time setting (the Cold War has ended of course), 'Stripes' is still a good comedy, especially for Bill Murray fans.