Stripes Is One Of The Great Military Comedies Of The Eighties. Bill Murray And Harold Ramis Lead A Hilarious Cast In This 1981 Classic That Still Delivers Plenty Of Laughs.
After spending the past couple of weeks watching horror movies for Halloween, it is time to get back to some regularly watched favorites. Today we are going back to 1981 with Stripes, a comedy that remains one of my favorite movies from that era. Directed by Ivan Reitman, this film brings together a great cast, a ridiculous military setup, and the kind of humor that made eighties comedies so memorable.
The story follows John Winger, played by Bill Murray, a man whose life seems to be falling apart all at once. He loses his job, his apartment, and his girlfriend in a single disastrous stretch. Rather than sitting around feeling sorry for himself, John convinces his best friend Russell Ziskey, played by Harold Ramis, that they should join the United States Army.
Neither man is exactly what you would call military material. John is sarcastic, irresponsible, and not particularly interested in following orders. Russell is a little more practical, but he is hardly the picture of a disciplined soldier either. Their decision to enlist sets up a series of ridiculous situations as they attempt to survive basic training.
Bill Murray is absolutely perfect in this role. His sarcastic delivery, dry sense of humor, and ability to make even the simplest conversation funny are a big part of what makes Stripes work. John Winger is essentially a character built around Murray’s comedic strengths, and he carries the movie from beginning to end.
Harold Ramis is equally entertaining as Russell. The chemistry between Murray and Ramis is one of the movie’s biggest strengths. They play off each other naturally, and their friendship feels believable even when the situations become completely absurd. Ramis was also an important creative force in comedy during this period, having co-written the screenplay alongside Len Blum and Daniel Goldberg.
The supporting cast is another major reason this movie remains so entertaining. Warren Oates plays Sergeant Hulka, the tough drill instructor who has little patience for the new recruits. Oates gives the movie a great straight man to balance out the antics of Murray and Ramis. His character may be strict, but there is more to him than just yelling at the soldiers.
John Candy is also terrific as Dewey Oxberger, one of the recruits who joins John and Russell during their training. Candy had a natural ability to make almost any character funny, and his performance adds plenty of personality to the group. Judge Reinhold, John Larroquette, Sean Young, and P.J. Soles also contribute memorable performances.
The movie follows the recruits through basic training, where they encounter plenty of challenges, questionable leadership, and some rather unconventional methods of becoming soldiers. The group is eventually sent to Italy for a military exercise, where their lack of discipline and John’s tendency to ignore instructions lead to even bigger problems.
Ivan Reitman does a great job directing the film. He understands how to keep the comedy moving without making the story feel like nothing more than a collection of unrelated jokes. Reitman would go on to direct Ghostbusters in 1984, another comedy classic starring Bill Murray, and his work here shows why he became such an important director during that era.
One of the things I enjoy most about Stripes is that it does not take itself seriously. The military setting provides plenty of opportunities for jokes about authority, discipline, and the absurdity of military life. The movie pokes fun at the Army without becoming overly complicated or trying to make some grand statement. It is simply a funny story about a group of misfits who somehow find themselves in uniform.
There are plenty of memorable scenes throughout the movie, from the basic training sequences to the various antics of the recruits. The chemistry between the characters keeps things entertaining, and the comedy comes from their personalities as much as the situations they get themselves into. It is the sort of movie where even the smaller supporting roles contribute something worthwhile.
The humor also holds up surprisingly well. Some of the jokes are very much products of their time, but the performances and overall setup give the film a lasting appeal. Murray’s delivery alone makes several scenes worth revisiting, and the supporting cast gives the movie a depth that many comedies struggle to achieve.
Of course, Stripes is not trying to be a serious military drama, and that is exactly the point. It takes a familiar setting and turns it into a playground for comedy. The movie knows what it wants to be, and it delivers from beginning to end without overthinking things.
Overall, Stripes is a great classic comedy and one of the highlights of the early eighties. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis make a terrific team, John Candy is always a welcome addition, and Ivan Reitman brings everything together with a strong sense of comedic timing. It is funny, entertaining, and filled with memorable characters. If you enjoy classic eighties comedies, this is definitely one worth revisiting.
