Dorathen
Better Late Then Never
Nayan Gough
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Fatma Suarez
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
spencer-w-hensley
Pauly Shore was the wrath of different moviegoers and critics during the early 1990's because of his annoying "Valley Guy" roles, that in some early efforts like "Encino Man", and later ones like "Bio-Dome" and "Jury Duty", really did prove annoying and just painful. In between all of those was 1993's "Son In Law", where Shore did play that obnoxious character, but the movie had a lot of likability in it's fish-out-of-water premise,and the way Shore interacted with his supporting cast. Then there was this movie, which is a formula that continued after Goldie Hawn starred in "Private Benjamin" 14 years earlier. The formula: One of the most popular comic actors of their day would do a fish-out-of-water service comedy. Immediately following was Bill Murray in "Stripes" and then eventually Shore signed on for one as well. If you hate Pauly Shore the good news is, you will find him more tolerable and bearable here. While he has some aspects of his previous "Valley Guy" roles in this movie, he is much more restrained here playing more of a dumb straight man, than a dumb, goofy one. He plays an electronics store salesman who is fired when he and his friend Andy Dick mess around on the job. He is then informed about the Army reserves thinking his commitment will be minimal and ignoring the fact that he has to go through training. Thinking it will be the easiest area in the reserves he and Dick sign up for water purification due to his brother being a pool man, and after barely surviving basic training, little does he know he and his team are about to be the first called to a desert war in Chad, and off all of them go to defend the U.S. in Africa. The movie although far more appropriate than "Stripes" is nowhere near as funny, but Shore and his supporting cast do squeeze a little bit of humor into it. The best moments are of course in training, from the moment he gets the classic Army haircut and screams like a little girl at the horror of seeing it, to his female drill sergeant played by Lynn Whitfield, and then pretending that he and Dick are gay to get a discharge so they won't have to go to Chad. Also David Alan Grier gives a very funny supporting performance as the meek, wimpy dental student who becomes part of Shore's team. He is such an underrated comic actor, who brings this movie moments of high comic relief it needs. Lori Petty the only female water purifier of the group, has some nice chemistry with Shore, though she really doesn't quite seem to be his equally goofy match. I guess the idea of them being polar opposites makes it more funny or so the writers thought anyway. Dick is actually more annoying than Shore is here, and seems to be playing a more restrained version of his real life persona. I cannot stand Andy Dick but thankfully he is not the entire focus of the story here making his character merely tolerable, though its a shame they couldn't have found Shore a better sidekick like what Harold Ramis was to Bill Murray in "Stripes." Overall, though formulaic there are some very funny moments and good comedic performances that makes this Shore comedy arguably the comedic actor's finest hour, for what that is worth anyway.
wes-connors
Fired from his job and in a Glendale, California electronics store, slacker clerk Pauly Shore (as Bones Conway) is broke and desperate. His similarly long-haired side-kick Andy Dick (as Jack Kaufman) is also canned. They think the US Amy Reserves is going to be easy, but Mr. Shore and Mr. Dick have to cut their long hair and undergo rigorous basic training with loud-mouthed drill sergeant Lynn Whitfield. They thought they were going to work in a cushy water purification unit, but Shore and Dick are in for a surprise. Buffed in his green briefs, Shore is about to have sex when the call to war arrives. Shore and Dick try to get out by pretending they're gay, but they are unable to kiss...And so, it's off to war they go...Accompanying the pair are two supporting soldiers, gun-ho female Lori Petty (as Christine Jones) and reluctantly funny David Alan Grier (as Fred Ostroff). Shore clashes with handsome Esai Morales and sees some unexpected action in Africa. Director Daniel Petrie Jr. and the crew seem to be just filling time during a long, unfunny dessert sequence. However, we do get to see Shore kiss Dick. If you remember, Shore could not kiss Dick earlier, so he must have been serious about digging his derriere. More seriously, Shore prefers Ms. Petty. Her break-out scene is a highlight. Funniest man in the army is Mr. Grier. He has good timing and delivery. And, the camel performs admirably.*** In the Army Now (8/12/94) Daniel Petrie Jr. ~ Pauly Shore, Andy Dick, Lori Petty, David Alan Grier
daniel-ambia
I trained in the exact same bases that Pauly Shore does in the movie, and we did pretty much the same things that he does. I know some movies portray army training as being incredibly intense. and it is, but there's always room for humor. I got a drill sgt to laugh the first day by running past him nude into the shower because someone had stolen my towel. Anyway if people take this movie for more then it is supposed to be they should be checked for their mental health. These actors do stupid things to make you laugh. You watch a movie, you drink some beer and you laugh your ass off when Pauly Shore talks. That's all it's great. Love it or leave it.
Emilie
i have to be completely honest with whoever reads this, i only watched this because pauley shore was in it. i happen to be amused with his stupid humor, so i turned on the movie. he needs more stupid people to hang around them to make it worthwhile. the girl from a league of their own was in this one, and she tries to be funny. what a joke. she just wasnt funny, she was meant to be a dramatic actress. why did she team up with pauley? what was she thinking? but andy dick and pauley really make stupid funnies together, keeping me laughing. either they are all alone or together, that is the only source of comedy to be found. that is all i have to say about that! (D D-)
