A bizarre counter culture. A much hated war. Civil rights for various groups. All get slammed here, as if it was a "Laugh-In" episode on acid. Three friends desperately trying to avoid being drafted discuss pretending to be gay, enact psychiatric issues that would get them booted out of the recruiter's office, and even contemplate committing crimes. They thrive on their obnoxious stupidity, and as a result, the audience is laughing at both their antics and how moronic they come off. For director Brian de Palma, this asks the viewer over 50 years later if this was intentional, with the joke being on late 60's serious movie goers. After all, art is individualistic, and perhaps a small number of people got the joke and laughed at those who didn't.
A young Robert DeNiro is one of the trio, along with Gerrit Graham and Jonathan Warden, all as different as people can be, but best buds none the less, and determined to avoid being shipped out. Much of the film focuses on their social life, with women of all kinds a major part of their daily activity, but it's also extremely anti-war in its agenda, showing through the absurd nature how awful the idea of having to deceive the government was, but also how necessary because of the manipulation that the military put on those of draft age. A snazzy title theme song is heard throughout, as important to the message as the dark comic aspects are. I wouldn't call this a great representation of the times, or one of the better anti-establishment movies out there, but it's certainly one that will remain unforgettable to those who get the joke.
A young Robert DeNiro is one of the trio, along with Gerrit Graham and Jonathan Warden, all as different as people can be, but best buds none the less, and determined to avoid being shipped out. Much of the film focuses on their social life, with women of all kinds a major part of their daily activity, but it's also extremely anti-war in its agenda, showing through the absurd nature how awful the idea of having to deceive the government was, but also how necessary because of the manipulation that the military put on those of draft age. A snazzy title theme song is heard throughout, as important to the message as the dark comic aspects are. I wouldn't call this a great representation of the times, or one of the better anti-establishment movies out there, but it's certainly one that will remain unforgettable to those who get the joke.