Biloxi Blues (1988) [DVD]

In the second of Neil Simon's semiautobiographical trilogy (with BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND), Matthew Broderick plays Simon's alter ego, Eugene Jerome. This time Eugene is in army basic training during World War II, and his general dissatisfaction with military life is exacerbated by his sadistic drill sergeant, Toomey (performed with comic perfection by Christopher Walken). Eugene has three goals--to get out of the army alive, to lose his virginity, and to fall in love. In funny, poignant lessons, Eugene learns about friendship from his fellow soldiers, about sex from a down-home, no-nonsense prostitute, and about love from a local girl he meets at a dance. The strong supporting cast includes Park Overall as the prostitute and Penelope Ann Miller as Daisy, Eugene's first love. Broderick's deadpan delivery of his smart-aleck observations gives Mike Nichols's film many of its funniest moments.