Private Benjamin

Director: Howard Zieff
Cast: Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan, Armand Assante, Robert Webber, Albert Brooks, Craig T. Nelson
Genre: Comedy/War 1980
Running time: 109 mins.
Rating:★★★

Devastated when her brand-new husband (Albert Brooks) drops dead on their wedding night, Jewish American princess Judy Benjamin (Goldie Hawn) is receptive to the pitch delivered by a duplicitous recruiter for the Women's Army Corps. Quickly adivsed by topkick Captain Lewis (Eileen Brennan) that she should not look forward to the private room, fancy clothes and sauna bath that she'd been promised, Judy is forced to go through basic training like any other "grunt". This turns out to be a realgrowth experience for the pampered Private Benjamin, who for the first time in her life has to work for her privileges. A brief misadventure with a lascivious paratroop officer (Robert Webber) nearly sours Judy on army life, but she turns out to be a darned good soldier-and a woman with a highly developed sense of self-esteem, which enables her to weather a further disappointing romantic fling with French phsycian Henri Tremont (Armand Assante).

One of the greatest comedic actress in cinematic history! Goldie Hawn has a knack for playing the snooty rich girl that transforms into a hard-working powerhouse of a woman. She has such a presence on the screen that is both comedic and captivating. Even when her character isn't speaking, Hawn brings all the emotions and thoughts of her character through her facial expressions that it's absolutely magical. 

Regardless of the fact that this movie is a comedy, it raise a lot of questions and interesting points. How much are the things we want really come from within or society? How much are we willing to sacrifice and alter to achieve those things? Are they really worth it in the long run? Lastly, what weird turn of events will present themselves to make way for who we really want to be?

Overall, an infectiously hilarious movie!