It’s been a while since I’ve seen Paul Verhoeven’s spoof propaganda war movie, but it’s held up exceptionally well. How anyone watching this camp little gem didn’t get that it was supposed to be a satire is beyond me – it’s one involuntary Nazi salute away from Dr Strangelove.
Loosely adapted from the Commie-bustin’ 50s novel by Robert A Heinlein, Verhoeven and writer Edward Neumeier take their source material and play it for laughs, ladling on the gore and gratuitous nudity as they go. Square-jawed Casper Van Dien signs up to the intergalactic army to impress Denise Richards, much to the delight of the one-armed, legless recruiting officer (“the army made me the man I am today!”), and is relentlessly pursued by lovestruck Dina Meyer. Neil Patrick Harris, as their best friend, typically steals every scene he’s in. Continue reading
