Some gifts keep on giving...like rotting fish. To that extent, this film, perhaps the worst ever to win an Oscar, gives even to this day. Ever since the overplayed theme song ("up where we belong") demolished the airwaves in the summer of 1982, I have always imagined this film as sappy, lousy, a total "chick flick" and with a terribly unrealistic portrayal of our military. As it turned out, even those low expectations were not met, as this film is far worse. In fact, if you were to set out to make a bad movie, with a bad cast, bad cinematography, and a bad theme song, you'd be hard-pressed to "top" this.
No one factor makes this film bad, as you could remove any one item from the film and it would still stink. Zach Mayo (Richard Gere) isn't inspiring as a lead, nor is Gere, but Deborah Winger takes bad to a new level in this film as the extremely uninspiring, social-climbing girlfriend (who puts down a fellow social climber for doing the same thing). A few years ago Winger lamented on there not being roles for older female actresses, but perhaps those who were avoiding her merely saw her crapper of a performance in this film.
As is this were bad enough, we wind up stuck with Lou Gossett Jr. as an academy award winner for his phoned-in performance as the stereotypical drill instructor, a movie with no real plot that is driven by poor characters, and total pandering to the female side of the audience that drives the box office.
While not surprising that the movie was a hit, that doesn't improve its quality. Simpleminded moviegoers will love it, while those with an acquired taste for quality film will see right through it.
A must-miss, but if you are curious, check out this film for its train-wreck appeal.
No one factor makes this film bad, as you could remove any one item from the film and it would still stink. Zach Mayo (Richard Gere) isn't inspiring as a lead, nor is Gere, but Deborah Winger takes bad to a new level in this film as the extremely uninspiring, social-climbing girlfriend (who puts down a fellow social climber for doing the same thing). A few years ago Winger lamented on there not being roles for older female actresses, but perhaps those who were avoiding her merely saw her crapper of a performance in this film.
As is this were bad enough, we wind up stuck with Lou Gossett Jr. as an academy award winner for his phoned-in performance as the stereotypical drill instructor, a movie with no real plot that is driven by poor characters, and total pandering to the female side of the audience that drives the box office.
While not surprising that the movie was a hit, that doesn't improve its quality. Simpleminded moviegoers will love it, while those with an acquired taste for quality film will see right through it.
A must-miss, but if you are curious, check out this film for its train-wreck appeal.