Movies-TV

Dismal, and it actually hurts to say that

I'm really impressed by the thought and care others have put into reviewing this movie. So, here's my input. I'm a huge Steve Martin fan & he's a comedy giant, but. He ain't Bilko and never will be. Steve Martin is essentially a well-educated, sophisticated, upper middle-class Californian whereas Phil Silvers (RIP) was a hustling, streetwise, New York jew who came from the the streets and learned his craft from the ground up. The experience Silvers brought to the character made Ernie Bilko such an icon. I guess he'd have played a wealthy LA lawyer just as badly as Martin plays Bilko(?) As others have said (and better than me) Phil Silvers WAS Bilko. You can't improve on perfection. I can't understand why the makers of this film even tried? What I do like about this remake (accidentally) is that it's made me realise exactly what was SO good about the original. Firstly, Martin's character is nothing more than a slippery, greasy, self-obsessed con-man. Silvers played the role very differently. The original Bilko was a hustler because he came from an environment where you either hustled or starved, and don't forget Silvers' Bilko always cared about his troops. In episode after episode, when it came down to it Ernie Bilko would put his men before his "instincts". My personal favorite was the episode where Bilko uses his dubious talents to out con the con-men who've cheated Doberman out of an inheritence. I don't see any human qualities in the shallow Bilko as played by Martin. Then there are the minor players in the original series. Have you ever noticed, all the privates & corporals are guys 15 or 20 years older than real soldiers would be in those ranks. Even the wonderful Dan Ackroyd lacks the priceless confusion of the original. "Bilko-world" is surreal & I'm sad anyone thought such a comedy classic could ever be remade.

Another failed attempt at re-creating a classic TV show

Give credit to Steve Martin for trying to keep the essence of Phil Silvers' Bilko, that being a con man with a heart

The problem is the supporting cast, which made original TV show great and were a perfect foil to Bilko, is either non existant, non consistant with the original characters or badly played.

The characters of Paparelli, Zimmerman, Sergeant Grover, Sergeant Rupert Ritzik, his wife, Private Sugarman, Corporal Sam Fender are there in names only (Sgt. Hogan, Bilko's girlfriend in the TV series, is not in the film)

In an attempt to be politically correct, a woman is playing Barbarella, thus cannot be allowed to show the ignorance and lack of intelligence to that of Bilko, that Harvey Lembeck originally played.

Doberman, the naive lachey that many people wanted to cheer on, is nothing but a slobbish fat man with no personality in the film.

It appears Dan Ackroyd never bothered to watch how Paul Ford brilliantly played Colonel John T. Hall because instead of giving us a realistic portrayal of an intelligent person frustrated by having to run an army post the pentagon even forgets plus having to match wits with an operator like Bilko; Instead Ackroyd gives us the stereotypical army brass buffoon that a grade school person could match wits with.

Futhermore, in most episodes of the TV, the people that got conned by Bilko, were those that originally started trouble with Bilko or his friends in the first place.

In the film, it is Bilko that originally starts the trouble with the character played by Phil Hartman, so one can even feel sympathy for Hartman trying to get even with Bilko who made his life miserable in the first place.

The original TV series featured Blacks and Women who were portrayed as strong and intelligent.

It was only the (presumably Hetrosexual)White Guys who were coniving, dim-witted, naive, ignorant, selfish, corrupt etc.

Thus keeping the original format would have not have raised the ire of these modern politically correct persons who have no problem with such afore-mentioned negative characterizations being attached to straight white guys

It is a shame they did not attempt study the plotlines in the original series and the characterizations of the supporting cast and incorporate them in the film.

All said a potential great film turned into a dud because of laziness and no thought being taken into what made the TV series so great.

Sadly, this film may discourage new comers into investigating the original TV series and deprive them of watching one of the classic comedies of all time and watching Phil Silvers transform the part of a con man into art form which others, including Silvers' other portrails of con men, have never been able to achieve with such perfection.

Speaking as one of the people who knows the movie better than the show...

...I say that I like the movie. I think that Steve Martin was the perfect person to play the role, and that it was good for him and Dan Aykroyd to co-star after all these years. If it was lower humor than we usually associate with the two, then the crazy scenes justify that. I remember that I saw this a week or two after I saw "Mr. Holland's Opus", and was surprised to see Glenne Headly doing such a different role. Phil Hartman, meanwhile, makes one nasty dude (it reminds you what we lost when he got killed).Anyway, this is a silly movie, but quite funny. I suspect that up in that great army base in the sky, Phil Silvers must feel honored that they made this movie.Also featuring Chris Rock and Silvers's daughter Cathy in supporting roles.

Steve Martin as BIlko

This was somewhat enjoyable, but predictable version of the Sgt Bilko tale. Martin had some very funny moments and played off the other characters well.

Laugh tears

Again a movie, where I can laugh tears. Missing that kind of a movie for a long time.Great Performance of all main actors/actress.And I guess, that's the way the US Army really works :o)Bucki

hmm

i was really disappointed with this movie. i think they had a somewhat decent script(you need to be a rocket scientist to come up with a good movie plot from a joke and punchline show like this)and a somewhat decent cast.Dan a. did his best and mostly filled his role. maybe someone like Maurice from northern exposure or some sort of military type actor would have been better.the chick from Dick Tracy did her best, but she was totally wrong. they should have got some sort of old maid actress like Debra Messing.and every other background actor did their part.now as for bilko himself, horrible acting choice. they either should have gotten an unknown or used phil hartman. hell, now that i think about it- why not ackroyd? I've seen his sleazy con man character (ridgeway guy)from the 70s, he would be perfect. he always has middle of good guy and sleazy guy.or even Jim Belushi.ah well.at least this movie made Steve Martin do some actually good work for once in the 90s. I'm not mentioning the father of the bride movies because its more of a romantic comedy than straight American comedy.

This movie rules

This is a movie for Generation-X. All the old boring fogeys/film critics were crying because old Phil Sivers wasn't in it and blah blah blah. Whatever. Bloody Baby-boomers. I watched this without the stigma of having seen (actually never having even heard of!) the T.V series and loved the film. This movie is funny from top to bottom and a sheer joy to watch. Steve Martin is hilarious. The script is strong. This movie is for the young, the young in the head and anyone who enjoys clever humour. 10/10.

Comedy that's both funny and likeable.

Finally, a movie that really has "comedy" stamped all over it! SGT. BILKO is one of the better comedy films I've seen, thanks to veteran Steve Martin who provided every bit of sense in his humor and personality. A tank that flies above ground level! How innovative! Although the same substances are present like other modern-day comedies, it embraces a more likeable feeling. That means you won't have to put up with disgrace over excessive flatulence discovered in thousands of other movies in the genre. Only on occasion does this matter exist, and we all know Hollywood can't help it these days. But it's better than some, right?

Steve Martin is no Phil Silvers

You'd expect that comment from a 50-year old who'd seen the series when it originally aired. It's kind of the way that your parents tell everything in their day was better. But I was born after the show left the air.Nick-at-nite was playing the Phil Silvers show in promotion for this film, which I was rather looking forward to. I fell in love with the hokey charm of this show. Yes, it was a bit out-dated and corny. But Silvers gave it an edge that this film just does not have. By the time I saw this film, I'd soaked up enough of the series to know what I should be seeing. I saw interviews with Phil Hartman and Steve Martin where they spoke with admiration about the original series, and what a treat it was to do the remake.They should have given the part of Bilko to Hartman. Hartman could at least imitate Silvers in voice and manner in the interview. And many of us has seen his work as sleaze extraordinaire Bill McNeil on News Radio. Self-absorbed, nasty--he would have been a perfect Bilko.The ghost of Silvers filled this movie for me. Whenever, Martin gave a line, I would hear exactly how Silvers might deliver it--and realize how off Martin was. Martin has been sly before. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is one of my all time favorite, and he is properly sleazy in Bowfinger. But he's just too nice for Bilko.On top of that, I don't know if anybody connected with this picture really understood how far off they were.

The "Real" Military

A good movie with some definate insider knowledge of the way NCO's wish they could work!

I never saw the old series but as an active duty Army Nco I did like this movie. Too bad the Army wouldn't help make it.

Good movie!

"Out of the bricks"

In the words of a critic, Ernie Bilko was built out of the bricks of Phil Silvers, so perhaps no one could have succeeded in redoing this concept. But Steve gives it the good old college try. He does acceptably well in behaving as the character requires, but the reason Bilko's gambling gags, for example, evidently worked so well in the past is that Silvers himself was a DEVOTED, passionate gambler. That patented expression of glee of his was REAL. At least this film reminds us to look up the original.

sgt bilko

sgt.bilko is very funny its a classic 1996 picture steve martin is always funny i couldn't stop laughting it was great 10/10

Ladies & Gentlemen and Children of All Ages; Presenting for your Entertainment, Edification and Cultural Stimulation; The Loyal Opposition 's Minority Report!

Maybe I'm really getting old, but this one just missed me and the old Funny Bone completely. Surely there must be something powerful wrong with this Irishman (that's me, Schultz!). Lordy, lordy what I would give to see the light! Firstly, that Phil Silvers manic energy, wit and drive was very much a part of the comedic upbringing and overall education in life, if you will. Although it is possible that the series, first titled: "YOU'LL NEVER GET RICH" (1955-59*) could have gotten on the CBS TV Network with someone else in the title role of Sgt. Bilko, it is very hard to picture any other Actor/Comedian in the business wearing those Master Sergeant's stripes.Such a strong identification is inescapable, though not the same sort of career-wrecking typecasting of a nightmare that it proved to be to some other guys, like Clayton More("THE LONE RANGER"), George Reeves ("THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN") and Charles Nelson Riley ("UNCLE CROC'S BLOCK").One major stumbling block to successfully adapting and updating such a work from the 1950's TV Screen to the 1990's Movie-going public is our collective memory. Without being sure about what percentage of the crowd remembered the Bilko character from seeing the original run and early syndication revivals, and their numbers were surely considerable; even a large segment of the young had seen Bilko reruns in recent times. It was obvious that the new film and the source were miles; or even light years apart.So as not to be thought of as a totally square, old grouch please let's consider some other points.Right here today, the 14th Day of November In The Year of Our Lord 2007, let me swear and affirm under Oath that I have been a Steve Martin fan for nearly 30 years, Furthermore, I've enjoyed the wit and talents of Bilko '96 Co-Stars Dan Akroyd and the Late Phil Hartman. After all, it was the talents of guys like this and so many others, Alumni of "NBC;s Saturday NIGHT" and "SECOND CITY TV" that kept the last quarter of the 20th Century laughing. But a BILKO re-make; it just didn't click.Perhaps if the film had been made as a Service Comedy (always liked 'em!) but without the Bilko Show names and gave it some identity of it self it would be more highly regarded by crabby, old guys like me.So, we've already had so many sitcom and cartoon series turned into movies lately, what's next? Howse about somebody doing Hal Roach's World War II Army Comedy Series of Sergeants DOUBLEDAY & AMES and TV's 1st Cartoon Series "CRUSADER RABBIT"? Remember where you heard it first! POODLE SCHNITZ!

Only for children.

How we miss the good-old-films of Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd, and surely they do too. "Sgt. Bilko" fits only for the matinées on TV afternoon schedules. It is too naive, completely predictable and full of clichés. Steve Martin's humour here is only a pack of ugly faces. Another Steve would fit the level of this film: Steve GUTTENBERG.

Even Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd couldn't save this movie.

Even Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd couldn't save this movie from laying an emu-sized egg. Based on the classic Phil Silvers TV series, it bombed because: A) It was updated to the 1990s, and B) The simple premise of the TV series was turned into a confusing, feeble and silly screenplay.The original TV series used a small cast of talented actors to portray lovable characters acting out simple yet hilarious pranks. To expand this premise into a 1990s movie was asking for trouble, and it shows. No one could pay me enough to sit through this stinker a second time.

Funny!

This movie was under-appreciated in its theatrical release. In fact, it's a rarity these days.....a lightweight comedy that doesn't insult your intelligence. Some critics carped because it wasn't like the classic TV show, but it would have been hard (and foolish) to try and duplicate the genius of Phil Silvers. Steve Martin does a fine job of putting his own unique stamp on the character of Ernie Bilko and he's surrounded by a good supporting cast with many familiar faces. The story isn't the most intricately plotted in the world, but it doesn't have to be. The gags and one-liners come fast and furious and there are plenty of laughs. A pleasant comedy that's good for all ages.

funniest, most hilarious movie i've seen

Steve Martin rocks the movie, and fills the audience with laughter. Well-chosen characters and a good story makes me wonder why more people haven't voted a 10 for this one. I think this movie deserves to be in the top 250.

Sgt. Bilko, misfit in Army!

An excellent comedy for the fans of Steve Martin, playing the role of Sgt. Bilko who is a misfit in the Army (along with his company), and more interested in gambling than Army. Slight romantic touch also. I loved it.

Surprisingly entertaining

What's impressive about this movie is that it doesn't try some phony attempt to capture the look or texture of the original Phil Silvers TV show; instead, in the writing of the Bilko character and the wink with which Steve Martin performs, it captures the spirit. There is a certain excitement and satisfaction in watching a con man pull of his schemes with charm and lack of shame -- that was the appeal of the original, and likewise here.

A GREAT COMEDY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY

It actually surprises me how many people have never heard of this movie as it is defiantly a classic! The plot of this movie is Sgt. Bilko has this scheme to run the most brilliant illegal gambling operation in the us army. Sgt. Bilko is just the guy everyone loves and he knows how to get a yes out of you, and if you wanting a good bet Sgt Bilko always is game. Wither it is if one of the members in his squadron is Stronger than a horse or the love of his long time girlfriend Rieta. Dan Aykroyd does an excellent job in this movie being the not so bright commander in charge who is really doing everything SGT. Bilko tells him to.