All the elements were there: Tom Hanks, John Candy, the high-minded ideals of the Peace Corps, Red China and brainwashing. But these "Volunteers" seem to have chosen a no-win assignment.
Even Watanabe, the exchange student in "Sixteen Candles", fails to deliver any laughs as a local who helps Hanks and Candy communicate with his people.
In fact, the funniest parts of the whole movie are Thomerson's as a gung-ho soldier of misfortune who acts tough but still yells "GOL-DARN!" as he falls off a high bridge into the water below.
Candy tries but aside from an isolated moment or two as his patented good-hearted bumbler, there's nothing that makes this worth his time.
And Hanks.... Maybe he thought he was in a serious movie?
TIDBIT - It was on this movie where Hanks met his future wife Rita Wilson. And you know how on-set romances help pictures that are already in trouble. Just look at "Doctor Detroit".
Two stars. Volunteer to skip this one.
Even Watanabe, the exchange student in "Sixteen Candles", fails to deliver any laughs as a local who helps Hanks and Candy communicate with his people.
In fact, the funniest parts of the whole movie are Thomerson's as a gung-ho soldier of misfortune who acts tough but still yells "GOL-DARN!" as he falls off a high bridge into the water below.
Candy tries but aside from an isolated moment or two as his patented good-hearted bumbler, there's nothing that makes this worth his time.
And Hanks.... Maybe he thought he was in a serious movie?
TIDBIT - It was on this movie where Hanks met his future wife Rita Wilson. And you know how on-set romances help pictures that are already in trouble. Just look at "Doctor Detroit".
Two stars. Volunteer to skip this one.