As fun and tongue in cheek as war can be.

Rating: 8/10 (6 October 2006)

I don't know quite what it is about Heartbreak Ridge that makes me enjoy it so much. I first saw it in the cinema upon it's theatrical release and have since worn out my VHS copy which I later replaced with the DVD. I even watch it when it's on TV.
I am not a person that is prone to having heroes or being a 'fan' of celebrities but Clint Eastwood is about as close as I come to having a hero of the big screen. Clint has a quality about him that even though as an actor he can seem wooden or awkward at times he has that gleam in his eye that allows him to carry of comedy with some aplomb. He is the comedy opposite of Jim Carrey.
In Heartbreak Ridge his character Gunney Highway has a real chemistry with Mario Van Peebles 'Stich Jones' from the moment they encounter each other on the bus. Highway is a gruff old-style marine gunnery sargeant with a gravel voice who chews nails but has a strong sense of responsibility and cares greatly about his men in the Recon platoon.
This is shown when he first appears to the men under his command. they are a rag-tag bunch who are not fit to be called marines. The Major in charge only cares about his beloved 1st Platoon and lets discipline go to pot just so 1st platoon can use Recon platoon as whipping boys in training. Highway stops Recon platoon from lounging around and makes them train hard. He explains to the Major that if Recon are not properly trained "they just get dead".
Cue the training comedy antics and personal drama with Highways branching plot line involving his ex-wife. It's all done in a fun way with rivalry developing between 1st Platoon, the Major and their drill sargeant and Highway and the Recon platoon once the Recon platoon realise their self-worth.
This all eventually leads up to the conflict in Grenada in which Highway and Recon platoon "Kick butt". There is some sadness with the death of one of the platoon members in combat and Highways romantic involvement is finally resolved.
It's not a brilliant film but is the type of character driven films that can suffer repeated watching which is more that can be said about some of the critically acclaimed high art or films with a twist ending that can only be watched once as it is spoilt once you know the ending.
Heartbreak Ridge's ending might be obvious but it is the journey there that makes it worthwhile.