1962, after Yale graduation, womanizing Lawrence flees a gambling debt that his rich dad won't pay. He takes his roomie's place as Peace Corps Volunteer in Thai Golden Triangle with 2 other ... Read all1962, after Yale graduation, womanizing Lawrence flees a gambling debt that his rich dad won't pay. He takes his roomie's place as Peace Corps Volunteer in Thai Golden Triangle with 2 other PCVs. Will he survive 2 years?1962, after Yale graduation, womanizing Lawrence flees a gambling debt that his rich dad won't pay. He takes his roomie's place as Peace Corps Volunteer in Thai Golden Triangle with 2 other PCVs. Will he survive 2 years?
- Cicero
- (as Ji-Tu Cumbaka)
- Sumo Guard
- (as Guillermo del Rio)
- Yale President
- (as Phillip Giulmant)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTom Hanks and Rita Wilson met for the second time while filming this movie. Wilson originally met Hanks in 1981 on the set of Bosom Buddies (1980) when she guest-starred in the episode All You Need Is Love (1981). However, their relationship wasn't kindled until they were reunited on the set of this movie. The pair married three years later.
- GoofsOn their flight to Lung Taho they are using a Bell 212 (a twin turbine version of the military Bell 202/Huey 1a). Bell did not start manufacturing the Bell 212 (known in military service as the Huey 1d) until 1967. The first models where not shipped till 1968. The movie is set in 1962.
- Quotes
Chung Mee: Opium is my business. The bridge mean more traffic. More traffic mean more business. More business mean money. More money mean more power.
Lawrence Bourne III: Yeah, well, before I commit any of that to memory, would there be anything in this for me?
Chung Mee: Speed is important in business. Time is money.
Lawrence Bourne III: You said opium was money.
Chung Mee: Money is Money.
Lawrence Bourne III: Well then, what is time again?
- Crazy creditsTom Hanks' character has firstname "Lawrence". Hanks saves the village. As film fades to black for credits, a large group of "volunteers" gather around Hanks. Just as black for start of credits shows, chants of "Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence..." are heard. Absolutely a tribute to scene of O'Toole as Lawrence of Arabia marching across traintop to chants of "Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence..."
- ConnectionsFeatured in Biography: To John with Love: A Tribute to John Candy (1995)
I just don't know what the heck it was with comedy when it came to the 1980s. There just haven't been all many funny films. And the comedies that are made have very blue humor in it which is insulting to the core. Are American audiences that vapid? Comedies in the 70s and before truly were funny, but then suddenly jokes were made about really low brow criminal behaviors.
Volunteers was epidemic of that trend. Hanks and Candy turn in decent performances, but it's like the tone of the film is at odds with the story material and dialogue. And it's a trend that's been with us for a couple of decades plus now, going on nearly 30 years. I just don't get it.
Volunteers deals with antics of the Peace Corps and volunteers therein. There's a rogue trying to escape from criminal and personal complications, there's a loving woman who falls for a psycho, and there's the all American who gets Shanghaid and returned with more than just mixed feelings on his mission and heritage.
This is a comedy? Hanks plays the overblown high class preppy who's looking for an out, and doesn't seem to come across as sympathetic in the least in this role. And then there's the special forces vet with his pet knife "Mike", along with the female coordinator who tries to be the level headed type anchoring the characters and story.
In short, the film was a mess. Not a real tragedy or bomb of a mess, but it simply had no reason for being. Films are made to try and inspire us, and perhaps help guide our moral compasses by showing us examples of right and wrong. Well, films also help us live out fantasies. What this film is supposed to be I simply don't know, because it certainly doesn't help rectify anything in the story (though the bad guys get theirs, the Peace Corps. mission is completed, and the right guy gets the right girl in the end ... but it's still not funny).
I think the truly last funny film I saw prior to the big 1980's down turn in the comedy genre, from which the film industry has never recovered, was Splash, which, perhaps ironically enough, was another John Candy vehicle. But Volunteers doesn't have the ounce of wit compared to Ron Howard's film.
I did try seeing this thing again on HBO a year or two later, but it was just as vapid then as it was when I saw it on opening night.
Avoid this. Do your brain a favor and go rent or stream a Three Stooges marathon or something.
- Blueghost
- May 22, 2017
- How long is Volunteers?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Alles hört auf mein Kommando
- Filming locations
- Mae Hong Son, Thailand(location)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $19,875,740
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,184,360
- Aug 18, 1985
- Gross worldwide
- $19,875,740