Synopsis
Major Benson Winifred Payne is being discharged from the Marines. Payne is a killin' machine, but the wars of the world are no longer fought on the battlefield. A career Marine, he has no idea what to do as a civilian, so his commander finds him a job - commanding officer of a local school's JROTC program, a bunch of ragtag losers with no hope.
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Cast
- Damon WayansMaj. Benson Payne
- Karyn ParsonsEmily Walburn
- William HickeyDr. Phillips
- Michael IronsideLt. Col. Stone
- Albert HallGen. Decker
- Orlando BrownCadet Kevin 'Tiger' Dunne
- Steven MartiniCadet Alex Stone
- Andrew LeedsCadet Dotson
- Chris OwenCadet Wuliger
- Joseph BlaireCadet Bryan
Recommendations
- 75
Chicago Sun-Times
Payne is played in the movie by Damon Wayans, in the best work he's done since the inspired "In Living Color" TV series. - 70
Los Angeles Times
While Major Payne is too predictable for most adults, it's an ideal entertainment for youthful audiences that allows Damon Wayans to be at his best in a dream part. - 70
Washington Post
The hero's hilarious efforts to become an ROTC commander at a Virginia prep school are more than enough ammunition for this riotous military parody. - 60
Variety
It’s relatively foolproof light entertainment, undone only when it strays too far into the absurd or wears the mantle of Wayans’ comedy persona. - 60
The New York Times
Major Payne takes about an hour and 10 minutes before it wallows in sappiness. That's not a bad record for a formula family comedy in which the ending is clear from the start. - 50
TV Guide Magazine
Predictable and ultimately saccharine, but occasionally enlivened by Wayans's rather vicious comic sensibility. - 30
Austin Chronicle
What there is here is Damon Wayans ripping up the screen -- which is entertaining but doesn't go far enough -- but this film really isn't about anything else. My 4 1/2 year old cracked up at the butt jokes but doesn't know what “turd” means so he missed much of the verbal humor. - 30
Chicago Reader
This fumbling and formulaic semiremake of The Private War of Major Benson (1955) is basically just an excuse to let comic Damon Wayans—functioning here as cowriter and executive producer as well as star—strut his stuff. But he's strutting in a void, and not even two gold teeth will light his way. The initial premise [is] good for a couple of laughs at most.
