Tell Me Again Why This Is Funny?

Rating: Null/10 (17 March 2009)

Bill Murray plays an obnoxious slob and Harold Ramis plays an obnoxious Jewish slob. Since these two "buddies" are merely comic actors in a major motion picture, they decide it will be fun to join the Army in order to annoy their fellow cadets, infuriate their commanding officers, and generally do whatever it takes to wring laughs out a premise that can't possibly fail.
Except, of course, the premise fails. Not for one moment do we believe these two are in the Army, since the smarmy grins never fall from their faces. Could they be more aware they're making pretend in a Hollywood movie? And the humorless drill instructors and sitcom-ensemble supporting cast only serve to underscore the stacked deck from which director Ivan Reitman is dealing. He would later direct the brilliant Murray and tolerable Ramis to perfection in the classic "Ghostbusters," a movie smart enough take its own premise seriously.
"Stripes" is less a satire of Army life than an elitist, semitic mockery of anyone dumb enough to JOIN the Army. I love Bill Murray but I could not get over my immediate dislike of the two main characters to laugh at anything that happens in this film. Much like the brilliant "Animal House" the movie runs long, and takes an odd second-act detour as the gang steals a mobile assault vehicle and single-handedly... storms an enemy compound? Wins the war? I forgot because I had stopped caring about these characters long ago.
Released fresh on the heels of the far-superior "Private Benjamin," "Stripes" has advertised itself for years as a comedy classic in spite of the fact that no human seems to agree. Ever meet a fan of this movie? Has anybody ever quoted or referenced the film... ever? This was a learning experience for those involved... all would go on to greater things... you will too.
GRADE: C-