Kubrick’s look at the Vietnam war, and definitely not a comedy.
We saw this on the first Saturday it was out in the UK at the old Warner’s cinema in Leicester Square. In the audience was a whole gang of US marines who were cheering and clapping the whole way through the first part, the training. They clearly recognised everything depicted there.
Matthew Modine does what he has to do as our anti-hero. R Lee Ermey carries the first part. But the real star is the old and abandoned gasworks in Beckton, now long gone (so save yourself a journey). But we do remember seeing them.
Some parts of the film are cringeworthy, like when Joker is challenged about his Peace symbol.
Great music though.