
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Let's face facts here: You don't watch a movie like Major Payne for its artistic merit any more than you'd watch Schindler's List for its comedy. If you go in thinking otherwise, you're bucking for a disappointment. So it's a pleasant surprise to discover that Major Payne is more entertaining than a barrel full of bad reviews would lead you to believe. It's a totally formulaic comedy about a bunch of misfit kids who turn into a crack squad of skillfully disciplined ROTC cadets, but Damon Wayans is spot-on hilarious in the title role as the hardened military bulldog who whips the little slackers into shape. Wayans plays the role as if killing and warfare were the only joys in life, and when he finds himself cast adrift without a military commission, a scene that directly parodies Apocalypse Now lets you know that Wayans (who cowrote the script) is going to bring something new to this routine scenario. Major Payne's idea of a good bedtime story is to recall his worst battlefield horrors, and Wayans gives it just the right twist of comedy to put Payne's bullet-pierced heart in the right place--he's really just a good guy with an iron-clad exterior. The young recruits strut their stuff in the final round of their cadet competition (their marching rap is good for a solid laugh), and director Nick Castle keeps it all from becoming too stupid or over the top. It's arguably only for Wayans's most ardent fans, but as a send-up of all the great movie drill instructors, Major Payne is painlessly enjoyable. --Jeff Shannon
Average customer rating: |
Major Payne
Starring: Damon Wayans , Ross Bickell , Scott 'Bam Bam' Bigelow , Joda Blaire , and Orlando Brown Director: Nick Castle Manufacturer: Universal Studios ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: 0783230494 Release Date: 1999-01-05 |
Amazon.com
Let's face facts here: You don't watch a movie like Major Payne for its artistic merit any more than you'd watch Schindler's List for its comedy. If you go in thinking otherwise, you're bucking for a disappointment. So it's a pleasant surprise to discover that Major Payne is more entertaining than a barrel full of bad reviews would lead you to believe. It's a totally formulaic comedy about a bunch of misfit kids who turn into a crack squad of skillfully disciplined ROTC cadets, but Damon Wayans is spot-on hilarious in the title role as the hardened military bulldog who whips the little slackers into shape. Wayans plays the role as if killing and warfare were the only joys in life, and when he finds himself cast adrift without a military commission, a scene that directly parodies Apocalypse Now lets you know that Wayans (who cowrote the script) is going to bring something new to this routine scenario. Major Payne's idea of a good bedtime story is to recall his worst battlefield horrors, and Wayans gives it just the right twist of comedy to put Payne's bullet-pierced heart in the right place--he's really just a good guy with an iron-clad exterior. The young recruits strut their stuff in the final round of their cadet competition (their marching rap is good for a solid laugh), and director Nick Castle keeps it all from becoming too stupid or over the top. It's arguably only for Wayans's most ardent fans, but as a send-up of all the great movie drill instructors, Major Payne is painlessly enjoyable. --Jeff Shannon
Average customer rating: |
Major Payne / Sgt. Bilko (Double Feature)
Starring: Major Payne , and Sgt Bilko Manufacturer: Universal Studios ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000N4RARE Release Date: 2007-05-22 |
Description
Damon Wayans stars in this hilarious escapade that commands laughs aplenty! When peace breaks out in America, killing machine Major Benson Winifred Payne, United States Marine Corps Special Forces (Wayans), is given his marching orders to the unemployment line. Unable to cope with civilian life, Payne is thrust back into the military regimen as commander of the Madison Academy Junior ROTC. How does the military's most dangerous secret weapon discipline a few good men when none of them is even old enough to shave? Any way he wants! At least until Dr. Emily Walburn, school counselor (Karen Parsons), joins his tour of duty. Armed with the comic genius of Damon Wayans and stockpiled with humor, "Major Payne orders up the laughs." (Los Angeles Times)The Army is known for churning out lean, mean fighting machines intent on protecting our great nation. But at Fort Baxter, there's one unit that can't even form a straight line Steve Martin stars with Dan Aykroyd and Phil Hartman in an outrageous comedy from Imagine Entertainment. Martin is the inexplicable, the incorrigible, the invincible Sgt. Ernie Bilko, leader of a ragtag group of the sorriest soldiers ever to enlist in the armed forces. Instead of training his troops for battle, he passes on his legacy of gambling and shunning responsibility. Times get tough however, when the base is threatened with a shutdown, and a by-the-book adversary, Major Thorn (Hartman), is intent on taking Bilko's reputation down with it. Now, all bets are on Bilko to drum up his biggest scheme yet to save Fort Baxter and clear his name!
DVD:
DVD
Joe Cocker - Live - Across From Midnight Tour