sddavis63 She is, of course, quite beautiful, but I can't say that Goldie Hawn has really blown me away with her acting or her style of comedy. Having said that, "Private Benjamin" seemed like a movie and a role that was right up her alley, so to speak, and I looked forward to watching it. I was disappointed. What I thought would be an amusing comedy failed completely. It turns out to be little more than a woman's journey to find herself. The first twenty minutes or so are really quite heavy. It's sad to watch Judy Benjamin being controlled and manipulated by everyone around her - her parents, her fiancé/husband and then even the army recruiter who lies to her after she's devastated by her husband's death on their wedding night to convince her to join up by telling her what a cushy life she'll lead as a soldier. I certainly didn't start out laughing. The basic training portion of the movie started out well. It had a few laughs in it, although I thought at times that it came across as little more than a female version of "MASH." Maybe if the focus had stayed more on Judy as a misfit in the army trying to fit in, this would have worked, but then after an unfortunately limited amount of time in basic training, the rest of the movie turns into a soap opera about her relationship with Henri and whether she's going to end up marrying him. Again, there were few laughs in this part of the movie, yet more feelings of heaviness as Judy finds herself getting sucked in by yet another manipulative guy and just a general lack of fun in a movie that's supposed to be a comedy.I suppose in the end this fits into one of the themes of the late 70's (although technically this is a 1980 movie): the idea of the woman who finds herself when she realizes that she doesn't need a man in her life. For goodness sake, this even referenced 1978's "An Unmarried Woman" and my reaction to this was about the same as my reaction to that one: bleak and not really that interesting to watch. I'm glad Judy finally found herself at the end. Frankly, though, I'm a little sorry I watched the process of self-discovery!

blanche-2 Goldie Hawn is "Private Benjamin" in this 1980 comedy/drama also starring Eileen Brennan, Sam Wanamaker, Barbara Barrie, Mary Kay Place, and Armand Assante. Hawn is Judy Benjamin, whose second husband dies on her wedding night. Inconsolable, she calls into a radio show, where another caller says he can help her. When they meet, he turns out to be an Army recruiter who promises her a condo on the water and says she can quit if she doesn't like it. Adrift, Judy joins. She doesn't get the condo, and the only water is when it rains or she falls in the mud during training.In spite of having no interest or commitment and incurring the wrath of her superior (Brennan), when Judy tries to go AWOL, the army gives up and sends for her parents. It's then that Judy decides to become a soldier and refuses to leave. She does well, and after sexual harassment from an officer (Robert Webber), she gets to be transferred anywhere she wants. She chooses France, so that she can take up with a one-night stand with a French doctor (Armand Assante) who visited America.The problem with this film is that it's Goldie Hawn, and audiences expected a comedy and instead got more of a comedy-drama. It's almost two films, the second beginning when Judy becomes re-involved with the Assante character.On the plus side, the acting is terrific, and the film holds interest. If the writers hadn't tried to do too many things at once, or been clearer with their intentions from the beginning, the movie could have been a lot better. As it is, it's good, and a great vehicle for two wonderful talents, Hawn and Brennan.

Welshfilmfan 'Private Benjamin' is probably Goldie Hawn's best movie, or at least most well known. Her role as a rich bitch in a fish out of water tale is one she has milked over the years, but here it was quite original and she is at her least annoying, The script by Meyers,Shyer and Miller is one they could do in their sleep and is quite Funny even if it does get incredibly mushy and slushy as the Movie goes on as her character falls for French smoothie Armand Assante. This was a big hit in it's day and deservedly so, but this story has been done to death in the years since and is quite similar to Bill Murray's Movie Stripes which came out barely a year later.Premiere Magazine voted this one of the 50 greatest comedies of all time, while I wouldn't go that far as it's not much better or worse than most of her repertoire.*** out of *****

middleburg Private Benjamin is a classic film comedy of the early 1980s. Filled with wonderfully funny moments, Goldie Hawn's best performance at the height of her film career, surprising twists and turns in the story line that keeps the audience guessing every moment how Judy Benjamin's lifelong journey will end up, and one of the finest casts of any comedy film ever made. The richly drawn characters of each member of the supporting cast is what helps make this film so memorable and even unique. Eileen Brennan's Captain Lewis is beyond inspired. She is a joy to watch every second she is on the screen. And each member of Judy's army unit - the poor overweight nebbish, the tough girl criminal, the Southern Belle is so perfectly cast and written, that one feels like they know their whole life's story. Then there's Judy's family - upper class Jewish stereotypes made famous by the Borscht Belt comedians - but SO funny! And the eccentric Euro-trash - uh-oh, more stereotypes. But again SO funny. Even though fun is poked at these characters endlessly, they somehow become real people, that the audience cares about - laughs at - but cares about. This is a real credit to the writers of the screenplay and again the great casting. With so much going on, so many characters, so many situations, be it a wedding, a funeral, boot camp, Paris in the Springtime, this film could so easily have become an unwieldy three ring circus. BUT, holding it all together is the magnificent Goldie Hawn, with her unflappable good spirits, her million dollar smile, her Laugh-In Go-Go girl good looks, and her disarming charm. This was a role in a lifetime for Goldie Hawn, and she more than rose to the occasion. She helped create a classic American Film. And oh the priceless moments in the film: Captain Lewis' Blue Shower (no one in the audience ever saw that coming); the stoned Campfire chat of the soldiers - notice how it goes from absolute hilarity to that wonderful look of wistfulness on Judy's face; Judy's Turkish Boss' accent; Judy's friends joyful dance to "We Are Family"; and the intriguing unresolved ending. Haven't we all wondered whatever happened to our beloved Judy Benjamin after she walked down that long forest pathway at the end of the film? But her independence and growing strength, and all those wonderful characters she fought with and embraced in her life journey at a turning point in her life keep dancing and struggling and crying and laughing in our minds long after the film has ended.