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Tom Hanks, John Candy, Rita Wilson, Tim Thomerson, Gedde Watanabe ... see more see more... , George Plimpton , Ernest Harada , Allan Arbus , Xander Berkeley , Ji-Tu Cumbuka , Clyde Kusatsu , Jacqueline Evans , Chick Hearn , Virginia Kiser , Jude Mussetter , Carlos Romano , Duncan Ross , Shakti , Prof. Toru Tanaka , Harry Yorku , Duan Ji-Shun , Guillermo del Rio , Pamela Gual , Phillip Guilmant , Lonnie Wun , Joyce Robinson , Penny Ellers

Tom Hanks and John Candy were reunited for the first time since Splash in this period comedy about Peace Corps worker during the optimistic period of the Kennedy presidency. Lawrence Bourne III (Tom H... read more read more...anks) is an upper-class heel who has to flee the country to escape his gambling debts and so sneaks aboard an airplane filled with Peace Corps volunteers en route to Thailand. On the plane he is befriended by well-meaning Peace Corps worker Tom Tuttle (John Candy). Once in Thailand, the workers become involved with building a bridge, and Lawrence becomes involved with the local Communists, an opium lord, and the CIA. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

33% liked it

8,105 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

8 critics

R, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Nicholas Meyer

Release Date: August 16, 1985

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DVD Release Date: March 13, 2001

Stats: 192 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (192)

  • ajv2688
    January 28, 2012
    ajv2688
    A fun movie, pretty well written, with a good cast, and everything else is pretty average for an 80s comedy. I wanted to rate this higher, but there were a bunch of stupid jokes thrown in that I thought the movie could have done without. Otherwise, it's an exciting, fun, charmi... read moreng little comedy. Overall I enjoyed it anyway, even though it's not the best it could be.
  • xxdebxx
    May 4, 2011
    xxdebxx
    Tom Hanks plays a rich Harvard snob Lawrence Bourne III, a Yalie with an upper-crust accent who joins the Peace Core to escape his gambling debts. Once on the plane, however, he has second thoughts and as soon as he gets off the plane, Lawrence literally goes down on his knees an... read mored begs the leader to send him back. But his pleas go in vain. Things begin to look up when an attractive fellow Corps woman, Beth (Rita Wilson) is assigned to the same village, along with an over-zealous but good-hearted engineer, Tom Tuttle from Tacoma, Washington (played by John Candy).

    However, Beth won't give him the time of day and Tom is a royal pain in the ass nevertheless the trio gets immersed in an elaborate scheme to build a bridge. Hanks and Candy are very humorous while Gedde Watanabe plays a local named Toon, a fast-talking kid who went to an American School in Bangkok who helps Hanks and Candy communicate with his people.

    Lawrence ends up building the bridge, but then realizes that it was a dreadful mistake, as he comes face to face with brainwashed Communists, deviant drug pushers and John Reynolds, as the crazed CIA operative, who names his Bowie knife "Mike."

    A piece of trivia for you to digest: It was on this movie set that Tom Hanks won the heart of his second wife Rita Wilson and the duo are still married to date.
  • DrStrangeblog
    July 18, 2011
    DrStrangeblog
    Not very strong but some scattered laughs and exotic Thailand locations. John Candy lends Tom Hanks a helpful comedy hand once again just like in Splash.
  • ileo
    April 12, 2007
    ileo
    Hilarious!
  • fantasticrice
    April 29, 2008
    fantasticrice
    I got this out of the bargain bin because it had two of my favorite actors... but I guess not everything they made was good!
  • mrmcclane
    December 25, 2006
    mrmcclane
    A very odd movie, but it made me chuckle and that's all that matters. I've never seen a stranger Tom Hanks movie.
  • 1980sgirl
    October 22, 2006
    1980sgirl
    One of my least favorite Tom Hanks films. I hated his accent in this one! I don't like it when he plays a jerk!
  • Drewbacca
    June 16, 2006
    Drewbacca
    Not very funny. Kind of dumb. This is before Hanks and Candy really took off with their careers. See "Splash" instead.
  • Corndog2005
    March 26, 2006
    Corndog2005
    I just watched this movie a little while ago. Very strange but intriguing and interesting. Pretty funny
  • smeade4
    March 23, 2006
    smeade4
    My sister says this definitely fits the stereotyped profile of a peace corps volunteer. It makes her laugh alot.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
June 1, 2007
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Often funny premise, but comedy cast makes it work.

David Nusair
February 18, 2006
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...a silly, thoroughly unmemorable comedy... Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 21, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

As a satire on the 1960s, the film, directed by Nicholas Meyer, is more sour than silly.

Rob Thomas
June 25, 2004
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

One of the better films from Hanks' minor-league, pre-"Big" career.

Gregory Weinkauf
February 4, 2004
Gregory Weinkauf, New Times

No Time After Time or Star Trek 6, but you gotta love Candy.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Walter Goodman
May 21, 2003
Walter Goodman, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
October 1, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Jeffrey Westhoff
March 27, 2003
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Volunteers Trivia

  • "If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don't want no volunteers, I don't want no mates, there's too many captains on this island"  Answer »
  • What actor played in 'Mazes and Monsters', 'Bachelor Party', and 'Volunteers'?  Answer »
  • name the following movie when this happens: in future Britain, charismatic delinquent Alex DeLarge is jailed and later volunteers for an experimental aversion therapy developed by the government in an effort to solve society's crime problem... but not all goes to plan  Answer »
  • In the first Jackass Movie, which member of the cast volunteers to stick a toy car up his anus?  Answer »
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