Stripes

Murray is completely democratic in this film: He taunts the strong and the weak alike.

The premise and star remain out of whack until the rambling, diffuse screenplay finally struggles beyond basic training.

There's little in the way of art or comic subtlety here, but the film really seems to work.

Stripes will keep potential felons off the streets for two hours. Few people seem to be asking, these days, that movies do more.

The balance of the film consists of time-tested commercial material, most of which is still working fine.

[Reitmam] manages a reasonable success rate at pulling off the numerous verbal and sight gags with which the script is peppered.

Reitman, Murray, and Ramis aren't even in the prime of their careers for Stripes but you couldn't tell this from watching the film.

The filmmakers take the usual army tropes and find the comedy by creating an atmosphere for the actors to go crazy with improvisation.

[Murray's] sleazy charisma helps disguise the formulaic "you're in the army now" plotting.

Comic '80s military romp has violence, nudity, language.