Weekend Warriors (film)
| Weekend Warriors | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Bert Convy |
| Produced by | Cami Taylor |
| Written by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Narrated by | Chris Lemmon |
| Music by | Perry Botkin, Jr. |
| Cinematography | Charles Minsky |
| Edited by | Raja Gosnell |
Production company |
|
| Distributed by | Moviestore Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $351,623 |
Weekend Warriors (aka Hollywood Air Force) is a 1986 film directed by Bert Convy and stars Chris Lemmon, Vic Tayback, Graham Jarvis, Lloyd Bridges and Mark L. Taylor. [Note 1]
Plot
In 1961, as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs invasion hits the news, and with war looming, a motley group of Hollywood actors, writers, stuntmen, makeup artists and studio personnel think they have come up with the ideal plan to stay out of the possible conscription into military service. The group, led by writer Vince Tucker (Chris Lemmon) join the Air National Guard, and volunteering one weekend a month as "weekend warriors" will keep them at home. Almost immediately, the unit runs into trouble when visiting Congressman Balljoy (Graham Jarvis) comes upon a questionable and tasteless prank, and threatens to transfer the entire group to Berlin.
Faced with a requirement to pass an inspection to save themselves from being placed on active duty, Tucker and his friends are subjected to rigorous exercises under the unforgiving instruction of Col. Archer (Lloyd Bridges) and Sgt. Burge (Vic Tayback). While it seems as though their plan will keep them stateside, unforeseen circumstances may send the entertainers abroad, much to their chagrin. Using their professional connections and skills, they fake the most impressive inspection ever, hiring a troupe of actors to portray convincing soldiers and put on a stage show to impress the reviewing Air Force officers.
Cast
- Chris Lemmon as Vince Tucker
- Vic Tayback as Sergeant Burge
- Graham Jarvis as Congressman Balljoy
- Lloyd Bridges as Colonel Archer
- Mark L. Taylor as Captain Cabot
- Brian Bradley as Seacomb
- Alan Campbell as Duckworth
- Marty Cohen as Decola
- Daniel Greene as McCracken
- Art Kimbro as Izzy
- Matt McCoy as Ames
- Jeff Meyer as Dawson
- Frank Mugavero as Barker
- Juney Smith as "Ain't"
- Tom Villard as Seblinsky
- Camille Saviola as Betty Beep
- Brenda Strong as Danielle
- Bruce Belland as Svenson
- Deep Roy as Little girl (uncredited)
- Douglas G. Rich as Handsome airman (uncredited)
Production
Weekend Warriors was released theatrically in 1986 and as Hollywood Air Force in home video, in the same year.[2]
Reception
Weekend Warriors was not critically reviewed, however, the home media versions have been extensively reviewed with primarily negative assessments. The review in the TV Guide was particularly blunt: "Honestly, there isn't one moment in this alleged comedy that anyone over the age of seven would find even remotely funny."[3] Staff writer Howard Miller from The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky, summed up the majority of the reviews of Weekend Warriors: "...'Weekend Warriors' probably isn't the worst movie I've seen in my years of doing reviews, but it most certainly is the dumbest And I mean dumb, dumb, DUMB! This is a comedy devoid of laughs, bereft of wit and totally lacking in charm."[4] On Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers gave the film a 38% rating.[5]
References
Notes
- ↑ Chris Lemmon is the son of Jack Lemmon and his first child by his first wife, actress Cynthia Stone.[1]
Citations
- ↑ Widener 1975, p. 7.
- ↑ Erickson, 2012, p. 392.
- ↑ "Review: : 'Weekend Warriors' (1986)." TV Guide. Retrieved: May 3, 2017.
- ↑ Miller, Howard. "Review: 'Weekend Warriors' (1986)." The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), September 20, 1986, p. 9. Retrieved: May 3, 2017.
- ↑ "Review: 'Weekend Warriors' (1986)." Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved: May 3, 2017.