Stripes [UMD]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Bill Murray decides to be all that he can be -- and it ain't pretty -- in this hit comedy. John Winger (Murray) is a quick-witted but unambitious loser who comes home after getting fired to discover that his car has been repossessed and his girlfriend is leaving him. With no idea of what to do next, John and his best friend Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) impulsively join the Army, more as a practical joke than a career goal. John and Russell find themselves in basic training under the hard-nosed and impatient Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates), who is stuck with an outfit of goofballs, including overweight Ox (John Candy), naive Cruiser (John Deihl), perpetually stoned Elmo (Judge Reinhold), and the appropriately-nicknamed Psycho (Conrad Dunn). The platoon succeeds in impressing the generals spite of themselves, and John and Russell even find time to romance two pretty female MPs, Stella (P.J. Soles) and Louise (Sean Young). However, when John and Russell commandeer a high-tech military vehicle for a European weekend getaway with the girls, they happen into Soviet territory and stumble into an international incident. Remarkably, Stripes was made with the full cooperation of the U.S. Army, despite its less-than-rosy view of the all-volunteer armed forces. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Features:
  • 18 minutes of hilarious deleted scenes

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Bill Murray - John Winger
       Harold Ramis - Russell Ziskey
       Warren Oates - Sgt. Hulka
       P.J. Soles - Stella
       Sean Young - Louise
       John Candy - Dewey "Ox" Oxberger
       John Larroquette - Capt. Stillman
       John Voldstad - Stillman's Aide
       John Diehl - Cruiser
       Lance Le Gault - Col. Glass
       Roberla Leighton - Anita
       Conrad Dunn - Francis "Psycho" Soyer
       Judge Reinhold - Elmo
       Antone Pagan - Hector
       Glenn - Michael Jones - Leon
       Bill Lucking - Recruiter
       Fran Ryan - Dowager in Cab
       Arkady Rakhman - Immigrant

• Director:

  Ivan Reitman

• Producer:

  Daniel Goldberg, Ivan Reitman

• Screenwriter:

  Len Blum, Daniel Goldberg, Harold Ramis

• Cinematographer:

  Bill Butler, James Connell

• Composer (Music Score):

  Elmer Bernstein

• Editor:

  Harry Keller, Michael Luciano, Eva Ruggiero

• Production Designer:

  James Spencer

• Associate Producer:

  Joe Medjuck

• Set Designer:

  Carl Biddiscombe

• Costume Designer:

  Richard Bruno

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Gene S. Cantamessa

• Stunts:

  John Cade

• Choreography:

  Ronn Forella, Arthur Goldweit

• Production Manager:

  Russell Saunders

• Casting:

  Karen Rea

REVIEW:

• A satire of army service and authority figures in general, the ribald comedy Stripes is buoyed by the strength of its cast and its unrelentingly goofy charm. Former Saturday Night Live cast member Bill Murray is at the heart of the film's affable, likable tone; his usual deadpan, laid-back self, Murray is perfectly suited to the meandering script and to Ivan Reitman's offbeat direction. Reitman also directed Murray in his first film role, 1979's Meatballs, and he surrounds the actor with experienced comic accompaniment, most notably from John Candy and Harold Ramis. The then little-known Bill Paxton, John Larroquette, Judge Reinhold, and Sean Young also make memorable appearances. ~ Brendon Hanley, Rovi