MJB784 Review of Major Payne

Major Payne (1995)

There were a few laughs, but most of this was predictable.

[6/10 · 18 April 2024]

We've seen army movies before where the drill Sergeant is an insensitive wacko who has weird drills for his men at a military school (in this case, for kids). Wayans seems way over the top and forced as the Major. He seems to be trying too hard for a comedic career as a loudmouth, but at least some of the jokes in the screenplay (also written by Wayans) were funny. I'm sure if he toned his performance down and had a more surprising script in mind, I might have laughed more. Expectedly, the team wants to get rid of Major Payne and he's too smart for that and embarrasses the crew as punishment then warms up to them and vice versa. There is a good subplot with Major Payne and a girl played by Karyn Parsons, which also had a few laughs, but most of this is familiar and forced.