STRIPES {Extended Version} (Ivan Reitman, 1981) **1/2

Rating: 5/10 (24 January 2010)

Having spent my childhood in the 1980s, I am somewhat partial to films from that era; with this in mind, I like to re-acquaint myself with popular titles of that vintageor, conversely, catch up with ones I missed out on (for instance, I recently enjoyed that Thanksgiving 'classic' PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES [1987]) – even at this distance. This military comedy, then, falls in the latter category: unfortunately, it is not among the better comedies to have emerged during this time. As indicated, I watched the extended edition of the film which, at 123 minutes, is grossly overlong for this type of fare – even if the added footage (about 16 minutes' worth) is not merely filler material. Also, it deals with a milieu which had been treaded all-too-frequently over the years – which makes the whole exercise somewhat predictable, tiresome and downright pointless! Besides, I have never warmed to Bill Murray's arrogant, narcissistic and self-satisfied personality; the supporting cast includes other exponents of '80s comedies – namely Harold Ramis (serving also as co-writer and who would re-unite with Murray and director Reitman for the GHOSTBUSTERS movies), John Candy and Judge Reinhold (from the POLICE ACADEMY series). Somewhat surprisingly, Warren Oates takes on the predictably tough role of the D.I. – who, naturally, engages in a battle-of-wills with the rebellious Murray and even has to contend with an incompetent superior of his own. Again, it comes as no surprise at all that Murray (and Ramis) become involved with a couple of girls (HALLOWEEN's P.J. Soles and a pre-stardom Sean Young respectively). The last third of the film resolves itself into an elaborate action sequence as the two couples, who had decided to take a holiday in Germany driving a bullet-proof van armed with missiles (the army's latest secret weapon), find themselves having to rescue the rest of their unit who had gone after them and have ended up incarcerated in Communist Czechoslovakia! Mind you, the film is watchable enough for what it is – even if one could hardly call it memorable or even hilarious – but the various elements do not really jell together.