Major Payne

Major Payne
Major Payne
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nick Castle
Written by	Dean Lorey; Gary Rosen; Damon Wayans;
Screenplay by	William Roberts; Richard Alan Simmons;
Based on	The Private War of Major Benson; by Joe Connelly; Bob Mosher;
Produced by	Eric L. Gold; Michael Rachmil;
Starring	Damon Wayans; Karyn Parsons; Michael Ironside;
Cinematography	Richard Bowen
Edited by	Patrick Kennedy
Music by	Craig Safan
Production; company	Wife 'n Kids Productions
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	March 24, 1995;
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$30.1 million

Major Payne is a 1995 American comedy film directed by Nick Castle and starring Damon Wayans, who wrote with Dean Lorey and Gary Rosen. The film co-stars Karyn Parsons, Steven Martini and Michael Ironside. It is a loose remake of the 1955 film The Private War of Major Benson, starring Charlton Heston. Major Payne was released in the United States on March 24 and grossed $30 million. Wayans plays a military officer who, after being discharged, attempts to lead a dysfunctional group of youth cadets to victory in a competition.

Plot[]

U.S. Marine Corps Major Benson Winifred Payne, a hardened Marine, returns from a successful drug raid in South America, only to find out that he was once again not promoted to lieutenant colonel. Payne receives an honorable discharge on the grounds that "the wars of the world are no longer fought on the battlefield", and that his military skills are no longer needed. After two weeks, Payne tries to adjust to civilian life through an application to the police academy. He knocks out a man unconscious during a domestic violence training scenario, causing him to be arrested for assault. His former general visits him and informs Payne that he has secured a job for him that will get him back in the military.

Payne arrives at Madison Preparatory School in Virginia and is informed by the principal that his job is to train the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps "green boys", a disorderly group of delinquents and outcasts who have placed last in the Virginia Military Games eight years running. When Payne sees his company, he immediately tells them that, under his direction, they will win the games at all costs, regardless of their various shortcomings: being overweight, sickly, deaf, cross-eyed, orphaned, or from a dysfunctional home. Afterward, he shaves all their heads bald. Payne also meets and clashes with Emily Walburn, the Academy counselor, who tries to soften Payne's discipline with understanding and feelings, especially towards six-year-old orphan Tiger.

Payne's training and punishments are harsh, which force the cadets to execute a series of failed schemes to get rid of Payne. Things come to a head when Payne offers to quit if they bring the Military Games trophy to Madison. The boys set out one night to Wellington Academy, the current trophy holder, to steal it. However, the Wellington cadets ambush them after being tipped off anonymously by Payne, and the boys return to school badly beaten.

Outside of the academy, Payne bonds with Emily and Tiger. Returning to the Academy, Payne is confronted by lead misfit Alex Stone about his deception, but Payne claims it was to show them what the real prize was. When Alex's alcoholic, abusive step-father arrives during parents' day, Alex tries to get him to leave. Angered and drunk, the step-father grabs Alex and is about to hit him when Payne steps in, stopping him and getting in front of Alex. He demands the step-father leave. When he refuses, Payne forcibly removes him. This earns Payne respect among not only the other cadets, but also Alex as no one has ever protected him from his step-father before. The cadets band together under Payne's regime. Weeks later, Major Payne says they have graduated the program and are fit to compete in the games.

Payne is asked to return to the Marines to fight in Bosnia, but his deployment means he will miss the Military Games and disappoint the boys and Emily. As he waits for his train, he sees a family together, realizing that Tiger saw him as a father figure and that Payne is falling in love with Emily. The boys at first decide not to enter the competition, but Alex convinces them to do it for Payne. At the games, the boys hold their own until Dotson, now a Wellington cadet, trips Alex during the race, and Alex sprains his ankle. Madison comes in second, but Alex's injury renders him unfit for the final event, a drill competition. The Madison cadets angrily fight with the Wellington cadets. The fight is broken up, and the judges deliberate having Madison disqualified for conduct unbecoming.

Payne gives up his commission and shows up at the last minute, smooths things over with the referees and tells Tiger to lead Madison in drill. The group executes an unorthodox but entertaining routine which wins them the trophy. On the first day of the new school year, Madison displays the Military Games trophy, along with another one for Alex Stone, who won best individual participant. Payne resumes being an instructor, having married Emily and adopted Tiger. Stone resumes his role as a squad leader. Payne has softened a bit, attempting to befriend the new recruits. When a disrespectful blind cadet shows up with his service dog, Payne shaves both him and his dog bald with his "field knife" and laughs.

Cast[]

Damon Wayans as U.S. Marine Corps Major Benson Winifred Payne
Karyn Parsons as Emily Walburn
William Hickey as Dr. Phillips
Steven Martini as Cadet Alex J. Stone
Michael Ironside as Lieutenant Colonel Stone
Orlando Brown as Cadet Kevin "Tiger" Dunn
Albert Hall as General Decker
Andrew Harrison Leeds as Cadet Dotson
Damien Dante Wayans as Cadet Dwight "D" Williams
Chris Owen as Cadet Wuliger
Stephen Coleman as Cadet Leland
Mark Madison as Cadet Fox
Peyton Chesson-Fohl as Cadet Sergeant Johnson
Scott Bigelow as Biker
George Cheung as Vietcong Guerrilla from Major Payne's Daydream
R. Stephen Wiles as Cadet Heathcoat
R. J. Knoll as Blind New Cadet

Reception[]

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 33% based on twelve reviews.^[2] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "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."^[3] Caryn James of The New York Times wrote, "Though the movie is rarely more clever than its title, Mr. Wayans gives the dark cartoonish comedy an irreverent edge."^[4]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times rated it 3/4 stars^[5] and called it a smart and funny satire of military films:

The key to this kind of comedy is to go all the way with it, and Wayans creates a comic character out of narrowness, obsession, and blind commitment. Of course the arc of the storyline is familiar; we know the pretty teacher will soften him, and that he will grow fond of the cadets, and no prizes for guessing who wins the big all-Virginia ROTC [sic] competition... Wayans is one of the most talented comic actors around, especially when he lets go and swings for the fences.^[5]

Box office[]

The film debuted at number 2 at the US box office behind Outbreak with a gross of $7 million on its opening weekend.^[6] Major Payne went on to gross $30.1 million worldwide.^[1]