A bit too silly at times but plenty of laughs make this military comedy worth watching

Rating: 7/10 (15 December 2016)

John Winger's life is not going to plan; he quits his job, his car is repossessed, his girlfriend has left him and he is about to lose his apartment it is time for something different so he persuades his friend Russell Ziskey that what they need to do is enlist in the US Army. They find themselves in a platoon of similar misfits under the instruction of Sgt Hulka commanded by Capt. Stillman. Hulka is unimpressed by his platoon; especially Winger whose attitude is not what the military expects. Somehow they manage to pass basic training and the platoon is posted to Italy where they are to be the first troops to use the Army's latest vehicle an armed and armoured RV! While there Winger and Ziskey decide to take the vehicle to see their girlfriends, a pair of female MPs, in West Germany. Stillman thinks they must be working for the Russians and takes the rest of the platoon to find them; unfortunately a map reading error takes them into Czechoslovakia it will be up to Winger, Ziskey and their girlfriends to rescue them; preferably without starting a war in the process.
This film is pretty funny most of the time even if it does get a bit too silly at times. If one hopes for a vaguely believable story you will be disappointed; just about everything is played for laughs and with the exception of Sgt Hulka it is hard to believe that any of the characters would progress as far as they have in the Army; the recruits don't get moulded into believable soldiers; Capt. Stillman is clearly incompetent from the start and it is unlikely that the two female MPs would keep getting Winger and Ziskey out of trouble this isn't really a problem though because they more than enough laughs. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis are on good form as Winger and Ziskey and Warren Oates impresses as Sgt Hulka. The rest of the cast, which includes quite a familiar faces, is pretty solid too. The story has the sort of gags that would probably appeal to all ages but some swearing and gratuitous nudity mean it is only really suitable for older viewers. Overall I found this to be good silly fun, not a must see but worth watching if you are a fan of Bill Murray.
These comments are based on watching the 'Extended Cut' version of the film.