Sgt. Bilko

1996 "All he ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work."
5.8| 1h30m| PG| en| More Info
Released: 29 March 1996 Released
Producted By: Imagine Entertainment
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

The US army is known for churning out lean mean fighting machines intent on protecting our great nation. Sergeant Ernie Bilko is the leader of a ragtag group of the sorriest soldiers ever to enlist in the armed forces.

Genre

Comedy

Watch Online

Sgt. Bilko (1996) is now streaming with subscription on Starz

Director

Jonathan Lynn

Production Companies

Imagine Entertainment

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.
Watch Now
Sgt. Bilko Videos and Images
View All
  • Top Credited Cast
  • |
  • Crew

Sgt. Bilko Audience Reviews

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.
Freaktana A Major Disappointment
FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Mightyzebra I have watched a few films with Steve Martin and really enjoyed them all, but this is, so far, my definite favourite. I have not watched the original series of "Sgt. Bilko", but I picked up the idea of this film pretty quickly and I enjoyed almost every minute. The humour is very crazy, similar to cartoon humour, but at the same time it is often very intelligent. I felt many "YES!" moments in this film, lines or scenes where the hilarity, words and or slapstick were just about PERFECT. Not only were the lines and funny scenes mostly very well-written and done, but the characters were memorable and (mostly) relatable and the plot itself was engaging enough, though sometimes a little too farcical.I recommend this film to people who love "mad," but clever humour, people who like Steve Martin and already have an idea of his acting style and to people who like to see a "unique" portrayal of what goes on in the US army (not that it's realistic of course...). Enjoy "Sgt. Bilko"! :-)
wes-connors A movie starring Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd and Phil Hartman based on the classic situation comedy has to be hilarious, right? No cigar and not even close. Phil Silvers put a lot of "Phil Silvers" into his "Ernie Bilko" and Mr. Martin wisely substitutes "Steve Martin" manners for his interpretation. This is a smart move on Martin's part, as the two comedians possess a completely different type of energy. However, Martin does not work well with this material, in this situation. Consequently, it falls apart...While certainly no guarantee, it might have been better to star Mr. Hartman attempting a Silvers impersonation. It's relatively interesting to see Cathy Silvers (as Monday) and Chris Rock (as Oster) appear as a genuinely funny team of lieutenants (last saw Ms. Silvers at "Greenblatt's" deli in the 1990s, and she was a delight). Imagine Entertainment's "Bilko" adds likable Daryl Mitchell (as Walter "Wally" Holbrook), but does little with him. The jokes about Fort Baxter's men failing to bathe do not pass the smell test.*** Sgt. Bilko (3/29/96) Jonathan Lynn ~ Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd, Phil Hartman, Daryl Mitchell
TongueFu This may or may not be the worst movie that Steve Martin has ever made, but it certainly was far from his best. Obviously, he did this crap for the pay check. Dreck like this certainly does nothing to enhance his reputation as a funny man. What he doesn't seem to grasp is that when people go to see a Steve Martin movie, they expect to be entertained, not bored to tears. It's sad that he dragged Dan Aykroyd and Phil Hartman down with him. I don't understand why talented people can't get a grip on the fact that people don't want to see them in lousy movies. If you're going to call a movie a comedy, then it should be funny. This wasn't. Shame on the US military for allowing itself to be associated with this pabulum, too. Full Metal Jacket had more laughs than this miserable excuse for a "service comedy." Surely, Phil Silvers is rolling over in his grave.
John T. Ryan Maybe I'm really getting old, but this one just missed me and the old Funny Bone completely. Surely there must be something powerful wrong with this Irishman (that's me, Schultz!). Lordy, lordy what I would give to see the light! Firstly, that Phil Silvers manic energy, wit and drive was very much a part of the comedic upbringing and overall education in life, if you will. Although it is possible that the series, first titled: "YOU'LL NEVER GET RICH" (1955-59*) could have gotten on the CBS TV Network with someone else in the title role of Sgt. Bilko, it is very hard to picture any other Actor/Comedian in the business wearing those Master Sergeant's stripes.Such a strong identification is inescapable, though not the same sort of career-wrecking typecasting of a nightmare that it proved to be to some other guys, like Clayton More("THE LONE RANGER"), George Reeves ("THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN") and Charles Nelson Riley ("UNCLE CROC'S BLOCK").One major stumbling block to successfully adapting and updating such a work from the 1950's TV Screen to the 1990's Movie-going public is our collective memory. Without being sure about what percentage of the crowd remembered the Bilko character from seeing the original run and early syndication revivals, and their numbers were surely considerable; even a large segment of the young had seen Bilko reruns in recent times. It was obvious that the new film and the source were miles; or even light years apart.So as not to be thought of as a totally square, old grouch please let's consider some other points.Right here today, the 14th Day of November In The Year of Our Lord 2007, let me swear and affirm under Oath that I have been a Steve Martin fan for nearly 30 years, Furthermore, I've enjoyed the wit and talents of Bilko '96 Co-Stars Dan Akroyd and the Late Phil Hartman. After all, it was the talents of guys like this and so many others, Alumni of "NBC;s Saturday NIGHT" and "SECOND CITY TV" that kept the last quarter of the 20th Century laughing. But a BILKO re-make; it just didn't click.Perhaps if the film had been made as a Service Comedy (always liked 'em!) but without the Bilko Show names and gave it some identity of it self it would be more highly regarded by crabby, old guys like me.So, we've already had so many sitcom and cartoon series turned into movies lately, what's next? Howse about somebody doing Hal Roach's World War II Army Comedy Series of Sergeants DOUBLEDAY & AMES and TV's 1st Cartoon Series "CRUSADER RABBIT"? Remember where you heard it first! POODLE SCHNITZ!