BONUS FEATURES: PRODUCTION NOTES, TALENT BIOS, FILM HIGHLIGHTS, THEATRICAL TRAILER AND WEB LINK. THE MILITARY WAS NEVER THISMUCH FUN OR THIS WILD. WAYANS IS HILARIOUS AS A RETIRED MARINEOFFICER DETERMINED TO WHIP A RAMBUNCTIOUS GROUP OF CADETS INTO AWINNING TROOP.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
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April 2, 2008
#1
how do the Wayan brothers keep making wack movies&tv shows? now once in a while they have there moments but that doesn’t happen as much as the wackness they put out.this film is another dud.the Wayans are like Jim Carrey&Adam Sandler i just don’t get the appeal.all are very overrated.
April 2, 2008
#2
I didn’t like this movie very much. I like the actor Damon Wayans for the most part, but I don’t like this character he plays, I don’t like his Homie The Clown character he plays because as Homie The Clown He DOES mess around, this movie had a terrible ending, the only part I like about this guy so far on the big screen is him as that ex-football player on ‘The Last Boyscout’, that’s all so far.
I didn’t mind how funny he talked and how cool he seemed for most of the movie here, but I REALLY hated the fact that this was the type of movie cadet kids would hate and a sadistic drill sergeant would enjoy.
I just hated seeing those kids CONSTANTLY getting bashed by that Payne and how the kids never fought back. And there wasn’t even a happy ending with anyone of those kids as the sergeant being cool to him in the very end. In ‘Stripes’ with Bill Murray, it had a feel good ending for the soldier and the sergeant, ‘Major Payne’ is only a feel good ending for the sergeant, NOT the soldiers.
This had one of those endings that would make the kid only madder.
That damn sergeant laughed sadistically as if he hadn’t learned a damn thing from that nice woman trying to change him.
I don’t mind a movie too much that bashes someone or a group of people through most of the duration of the movie, but when it doesn’t turn out good in the end, then I hate it.
I gave it 2 stars because Damon Wayans played a funny star and he had great potential as an actor to go from that guy in ‘The Last Boyscout’ to this sadistic guy who talks funny.
I wanted to see the boys get more revenge on him, tell him off more, and maybe all gang up on him, at least fight back hard to make him regret his cruel treatment all in the end at least. But no, they never got even with that S.O.B.
(and that’s the bottom line ’cause Steveman said so!)
April 2, 2008
#3
the first half of this movie was really great, i wont bother to metion all the memorable scenes it has. but the last half was just pure trash, payne who was such a character throughout the first half just plane ran out of material. and the movie also seemed to shift gears from a comedy to some sort of feel-good adolescent drama near the end. truefully i really loved the first half, but that last half was just so bad it totally ruined a movie with so much potential.
April 2, 2008
#4
This movie is very funny. From the first time I saw it to every time I see it on TV, I always watch at least a little and laugh every time. This is a simple comedy, so there’s little point in expounding much on my view, but if the synopsis of the movie makes it sound interesting, get it. It’s very funny.
April 2, 2008
#5
“Major Payne” is so silly but it has had me and my family laughing time and time again.
It only has one scene that would go down in the hall of fame of what NEVER to do – a beautiful woman shakes her fanny right in the camera – oh, my smelling salts, please – but otherwise, it is a hilarious story if you like totally funny, silly, stupid, ‘military-school-with-goofy-kids-and-terminally-gruff-commander’ humor – and most especially, Damon Wayons who must be at his best here – this is the only work of his I really know.
How did I hear about “Major Payne”? I used to work with this man. I did not like the guy much. But the one thing about him – he kept saying what a funny and great movie “Major Payne” was. Over and over again. So one day, I rented “Major Payne” for myself. OH, my gosh. If you can’t be silly, then do not rent this movie. Please. Don’t. But if you CAN laugh at some silly, goofy, “offensive,” crude, hilarious jokes, then by all means, rent or buy “Major Payne.” It is one of those movies that has lines that you will ALWAYS remember – and may end up repeating for life.
It is not politically correct and thank God for that. It is just plain funny. And Damon Wayons is obviously mega-talented. If he has done anything else this funny or good, someone please let me know. I will certainly see it.
Now if this review offends anyone, or you rent “Major Payne” and don’t like it, then so be it. I have done a service to mankind to tell others about this movie, and that is ALL that matters. A few more people will join me in the laughter because of my words here, and my life will have been worth something after all.