Stripes

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Stripes ★★½ 1981 (R)

Feeling like losers and looking to straighten out their lives, two friends enlist in the Army under the mistaken impression that military life is something like a summer camp for grownups. A boxoffice success (despite a weak script) due in large part to Murray's charm and his verbal and sometimes physical sparring with Oates, who is good as the gruff-tempered platoon sergeant. Features humorous stints from various “Second City” players, including Candy, whom Murray turns into a “lean, mean fighting machine.” 105m/C VHS, DVD, UMD . Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, P.J. Soles, Warren Oates, John Candy, John Larroquette, Judge Reinhold, Sean Young, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, Lance Le-Gault; D: Ivan Reitman; W: Len Blum, Harold Ramis; C: Bill Butler; M: Elmer Bernstein.