Eugene, the young hero from "Brighton Beach Memoirs", has headed off to basic training in Biloxi, Mississippi to prepare to serve in the Army as America reaches the end of World War II. He gets a wakening he won't soon forget. Matthew Broderick, the young actor who played Eugene on Broadway in both "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Biloxi Blues", repeats his role of Eugene after skipping the movie version of "Brighton Beach Memoirs", returning to the role for this movie as his age was more appropriate for being in the army rather than the youthful teen of the first Neil Simon semi-autobiographical play. Confronted with a rather eccentric sergeant (the always amazing Christopher Walken) and a diverse group of recruits, Eugene finds himself both loved and despised as the men gain camaraderie until they discover Eugene's journal of his experiences. But one thing for sure, each of the men grows up from knowing each other, and life is never boring when you've got an unpredictable drill instructor like Walken. This enjoyable but predictable coming of age comedy is nicely acted with Broderick charming, Walken authoritative, and the ensemble diverse in the variety of characters surrounding Eugene. Penelope Ann Miller has a nice small role as the young local girl Broderick encounters, but the focus is on the men. Eugene returned for one final stage and movie fling, "Broadway Bound", the movie of which was made for cable TV.
Review of Biloxi Blues
