It's pretty much like every other army comedy from Abbott and Costello to Bob Hope or Goldie Hawn's Private Benjamin but this boasts a few modern trimmings and original laughs.

Bill Murray is at his laconic best as the wise-cracking Private Winger who joins up just for something to do, riles the sergeant, gets double-duty, finds himself in a misfit platoon, flops all over the obstacle course and wins comic glory in the last reel.

Most of the visual jokes are telegraphed in advance but it really doesn't matter - the film remains mildly amusing throughout, apart from one genuine belly laugh early on involving a football.