Volunteers

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Brad S. R Tom Hanks is great and the supporting cast, script, music, and direction are mostly good, but it just doesn't add up to a very consistent comedy. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/28/25 Full Review Horror fan 4 It's not there best work but Hanks and candy bring enough charm and comedy to make this a watchable movie. Tim Treakle Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/25 Full Review Audience Member Man, not sure what was going on here. Hanks' accent choice is awful and fades in and out (though, it may be a vehicle for communicating how self-absorbed Lawrence is at the moment). Rita Wilson hits all the beats expected of supporting actresses in 80s comedies - which is to say, does a lot of loud talking and playing hard to get but ultimately succumbing to the leading male's charm. Candy gives the best performance of the bunch. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member I can't believe I've never seen this movie and that it took me so long to watch it. Now I know why Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson say this is their favorite movie. They had wonderful chemistry in "Volunteers" and although I found this a bit slow in places, it did have some hilarious moments. I love John Candy singing the Wazzu (Washington State University) fight song! The scenery was beautiful and the acting was great (loved Gedde Watanabe in this almost as much as I loved him as Long Duck Dong in Sixteen Candles. I'm glad I finally saw this because it's suspenseful, romantic and funny. The ending was a bit of a disappointment, given the first part of the film. I wish it had been longer and that Tom Hanks' relationship with Rita Wilson had been flushed out a little more but it was a wonderful way for them to start their real relationship! Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member I think any one of us can unexpectedly become volunteers in a way whether it's intentional or not In the case of Tom Hanks as Laurence, a spoiled rich kid from NYC he gets into some trouble with the mafia owing then gambling money during the 1960s He follows his roommate at Yale joining the peace corps to Thailand and ends up in the country helping the indigenous peoples he wasn't planning to He's joined by Tom the Turtle Tuttle played by John Candy and Beth played by Rita Wilson but all of them get caught up in the middle of a communist struggle occupying the nation A bridge is being constructed although more than one party wants to have control of if At first Laurence isn't the slightest bit interested in participating in community service but after seeing Beth he's willing to be a humanitarian helping the villagers, stopping drug lords, and ending communist forces This movie was also the first time Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson met playing a couple on-screen and actually ending up together off-screen. One of those rare examples of beginning Hollywood romances. There's several Asian stereotypes that are cringeworthy but there was one joke breaking-the-fourth wall that made me laugh and Hanks, Wilson, and John Candy carry the movie enough to be above average. Also has the main character apply that moral of what you can not only do for your country not for others. Laurence does the right thing for the right reasons for a change for once in his life. A lot of us can strive to do something for others instead of just for ourselves. A decent comedy if you don't retain a lot from it afterwards. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member 1985: A college graduate with huge gambling debts takes the place of a buddy and joins with the Peace Corps in Thailand. He regrets the move but cannot leave. He and other volunteers join together to help a local Thai group in building a bridge to help the village. However, two different rival groups threaten the village. The movie is watchable, but ultimately disappointing. The plot just becomes ultimately plodding. The lead character is rather unlikable, though Hanks does what he can with the role of Lawrence Bourne III. Candy has some amusing moments as "Tom Tuttle from Tacoma". Wilson is likable as Beth Wexler. Stars: Tom Hanks, John Candy, Rita Wilson, Tim Thomerson, and Gedde Watanabe. (Hanks and Wilson married after the making of this picture.) Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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