- TITLE | Private Benjamin
- RELEASE | October 1980
- DIRECTOR | Howard Zieff
- STARRING | Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, Armand Assante
- TAGLINE | "The Army was no laughing matter until Judy Benjamin joined it."
Judy Benjamin has just entered into her second marriage when her husband dies of a heart attack on their wedding night. Lost and upset, she allows herself to be talked into joining the army by a savvy recruiter who does quite the job twisting the truth about what service will look like.
Not a stretch to believe that Judy isn't the ideal soldier. She's whiney, lazy, and stubborn. Captain Doreen Lewis doesn't make it easy on her either...but Capt. Lewis has her own issues. Ready to leave and return to her life, Judy has a visit from her parents and her father rants against in and basically calls her a good for nothing. Determined to prove him wrong, she decides to stay and you see the typical turn around of attitude.
She is eventually stationed in Paris where she falls in love with a dashing doctor. He seems great at first, but it's an early Goldie Hawn movie set in the late 70s early 80s so of course he ends up being a horrible dude. She decides to leave the life she's built for herself in the army to marry him, but thankfully, at the wedding, comes to her senses and decides to carve out her own path.
The Swoon Factor |
Emily's Thoughts - There was a bit at first when Judy meets Henri, her French lover. You start to think that maybe, just maybe she's found a guy that will finally treat her right. He's charming, suave, and kind of sexy. And French - which is both attractive and not in real quick succession.
The Feels Factor |
Emily's Thoughts - There were feels. There was anger that led to disgust with a follow up of relief. I was really afraid that Goldie's character was going to get stuck in another poor life decision, but she's pulled through in the end.
The Skeez Factor |
Emily's Thoughts - I don't want to stereotype charismatic French men, but most seem to turn to skeev at some point. He knew how to use her, manipulate her, and play to the "rich" girl that she worked so hard to overcome in the army. He's not my least favorite Goldie love interest, but Henri's def up there.
The Re-Watchability Factor |
Emily's Thoughts - I guess so? I mean, it won't become my go to, but the scenes with her girlfriends would be worth a second watch.
Does this movie receive the Total Weirdos stamp of approval?
Girl power! She made the right decision in the end!
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