Private Benjamin (1997, DVD)

If you like Goldie, this is a good one for you, a classic. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I like Goldie Hawn's comedy movie and female in the army. But above all, as the story of the movie goes, a person can only achieve success in life when (s)he decides to take charge of his own and set a part of life for himself/herself (rather than just letting daddy and mommy taking care of him/her).

Goldie Hawn is fabulous in an Academy Award nominated role (her only nomination as Best Actress although she has won Best Supporting Actress). She plays a dumb blonde bride who on her wedding night while having sex becomes a widow. Thoroughly depressed, she isolates herself in a motel room and finally meets with an Army recruiter. He convinces her that entering the Army is the answer to all her problems. And so now we have Private Judy Benjamin.

At basic training, enter Sergeant doreen Lewis played by Eileen Brennan, also in an Academy Award nominated role, who plays her sergeant fabulously. We see Goldie struggling through the rigors with other recruits such as Mary Kay Place. They end up in various madcap situations which are thoroughly enjoyable. But the epitome is when they put blue Rit dye in the shower cap of Sgt Lewis' bathroom, and we see her take a shower with the blue dye all over her.

Goldie as Judy Benjamin has more to do in this movie, but the second half is not nearly as entertaining as the first part. She becomes a member of the Thunderbirds, an exclusive parachuting troop, until the commander comes on to her. By now, Judy's naivete is gone, and she blackmails the commander to send her to an exciting city, Paris. She becomes the assistant to an Indian ambassador to Nato. It is hilarious to see Judy try to talk with an Indian accent.

In Paris, she also meets a previous acquaintance, played by Armand Assante, who becomes her live-in and a rogue. The point of this move by the producers I am sure is to show that Judy Benjamin is no longer stupid. And she will not put up with a man who will play around on her and neglect her.

Despite the downhill plot of this movie, the first part is well worth the adventure. This is Goldie at her best! But my favorite movies of hers are still "Overboard" and "Swing Shift."

You can probably watch this movie on any given Saturday afternoon. It's always on T.V! But if you want to have it for your collection to watch on a Sunday afternoon, then you should get it!