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Stripes Movie Review Summary

Actors: Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, John Candy, P.J. Soles, Sean Young, Judge Reinhold, John Larroquette, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, Timothy Busf

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Stripes


A group of misfit soldiers struggle to make it through boot camp. After finally completing basic training, the unit is assigned to a base near Russia.
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The two men who are the biggest troublemakers steal an experimental military vehicle disguised as an RV. They take their girlfriends, two MPs, on a road trip.

Their commanding officer, not wanting his senior officers to find out about the theft, decides to take the unit and go after the two men. However, due to some incompetence on the navigator's part, they end up in Russia, behind enemy lines. They're captured and held prisoner.

The two troublemakers hear about the capture over the radio. They decide to rescue their unit. Using the disguise of the vehicle and some quick wit, they're able to infiltrate the Russian base.

The vehicle lives up to it's full military potential. The troublemakers rescue their unit and are heralded as heroes for the daring rescue.
The review of this Movie prepared by Brandon Swenson




This is an off beat comedy about two down-on-their-luck guys who decide to give the army a chance at making them better men. John Winger (Murray) and Russell Zilsky (Ramis) give up their going nowhere careers as a cabbie and an ESOL teacher to enlist in the Armed Forces thinking it will be filled with fun and adventure. What they find is Sgt. Hulka (Oates), a grizzled, no nonsense drill sergeant and that Army life is really hard work and tough rules. They do meet two sexy MP's; Stella (Soles) and Louise (Young). Basic training is killing the guys and Winger wants out. When he tries to go AWOL Russell wrestles him down before being picked up by Stella and Louise and escorted back to the barracks.

Things go so badly during training that Sgt. Hulka is injured in a mortar accident and the guys are left to finish training themselves. They go out on the town barhopping and get embroiled in a rigged mud-wrestling match, where Dewey “Ox” Oxenberger (Candy) wrestles the whole female staff, leaving them topless. Saved again by Stella and Louise, the foursome stop off at General Barnicke's house because Winger says, “he owes me money.” Finally, the guys score with the pretty MP's. The next morning is their graduation and review for which they are not prepared. Winger takes them to an empty hangar to practice but they fall asleep and are late to the parade grounds. Once there they do a fancy drill routine, impressing the General, and are assigned to a top-secret project in Germany much to the chagrin of Captain Stillman (Larroquette).

The guys treat it as one big lark until they find out that the platoon has been captured in East Germany while out looking for them and the vehicle they have commandeered for the weekend; the super secret urban assault vehicle. They finagle their way past dopey Russian border guards (Flaherty) and end up at a prison camp where their friends are being held and tortured. Sgt. Hulka has made his way there too. They are able to fight their way out. The Army heaps praise and promotions on all but Cpt. Stillman.
The review of this Movie prepared by David Fletcher



Script Analysis of Stripes

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Plot & Themes

Comedy, primarily    -   Yes Time/era of movie:    -   1980's-1999 Comedy or Parody about    -   war movies How much humor v. drama    -   Nearly all humor

Main Character

Identity:    -   Male Profession/status:    -   infantry soldier    -   unemployed Age:    -   20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   White American

Setting

United States    -   Yes Asia/Pacific/Middle East    -   Yes Asian country:    -   Russia Misc setting    -   fort/military installation

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   generic/vague references to death/punishment Sex/nudity in movie?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   kissing    -   seeing breasts    -   sex under blankets Any profanity?    -   Occasional swearing

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