The late Oscar winner Hal Ashby directs from a screenplay co-written by future Oscar winner Robert Towne (recently deceased as of this writting) from the 1970 novel 'The Last Detail' by (the still living) Darryl Ponicsan (perhaps best known for this and his novel 'Cinderella Liberty' which was also made into a film).
Signalman 1st Class Jack Nicholson and Gunner's Mate 1st Class Otis Young are given a full week to transport 18 year old Seaman Randy Quaid from Virgina to the brig in Rhode Island. The awkward and naive young man has been courtmartiled and sentenced to 8 years for the attempted robbery of $40 from a charity donation box. Nicholson and Young seeing this as the injustice it is, decide to stretch out the journy and show Quaid one more good time before being locked up by getting him drunk and getting him laid.
Not one of Ashby's great movies, though at times nearly so. Also featuring Clifton James, Carol Kane and a pre SNL Gilda Radner in a small role. There is a subplot about faddy meditation groups that is wonderfully dated. ***
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