Judy Benjamin (Goldie Hawn) is a picky superficial newlywed who loses her husband (Albert Brooks) during wedding night sex on the bathroom floor. She's 28, married twice, and trained for nothing. Lying recruiter Jim Ballard (Harry Dean Stanton) tricks her to join the army. She's in for a rude awakening and wants to go home. Captain Lewis (Eileen Brennan) is her tough trainer. After being belittled by her father, she decides to stay rather than go home getting taken care of. She becomes a great private and rout the opposition in a war game. While on leave in New Orleans, she meets french doctor Henri Tremont (Armand Assante). Later, he would propose but he isn't prince charming.Goldie Hawn is fun and Eileen Brennan is terrific. They are both great and the movie is actually uplifting. The movie should probably stay with basic training. The second half isn't quite as compelling and the comedy dries up. The movie is better off expanding on the first half and cut out the second half.

Private Banjamin is an uneven film, but it is also an entertaining one. The first half is very focused, but the second half does get rather scatter-shot and dull. While most of it is funny, some of the laughs have a tendency to become sporadic, while the romance felt forced for my tastes. On the other hand, the film is at least nice to look at with good cinematography, editing and scenery, the story is decently paced and maintains interest and at its best the script is smart and snappy. Goldie Hawn is a very likable lead, and there is a sterling support cast including Eileen Brennan and Harry Dean Stanton. Overall, a very decent and entertaining film. 7/10 Bethany Cox

This must be the most under rated, under appreciated, overlooked comedy ever. It was never even released in Wide-screen on DVD. Goldie Hawn shines as the main Character Judy Benjamin as well as Eileen Brennen as the tough sergeant. Oh, and did I mention how funny it is.It is the Story of Judy Benjamin, a newly married Jewish "Princess" with over protective Parents. To them, Judy is the typical "be pretty and stay quiet" kind of a girl. They marry her off to a doctor as every nice Jewish girl must do. This begins a journey of self discovery for Judy and we are taken along for the ride. As the title insinuates, she joins the Army and begins to develop into the woman that deep down she knew she could be.I never understood why this movie has been cast aside. Maybe the audience does not want to see a mature, thoughtful Goldie Hawn. It's one of my favorites, and I hope one day it gets the treatment that it deserves on Blu-Ray.

Private Benjamin is a classic film comedy of the early 1980s. Filled with wonderfully funny moments, Goldie Hawn's best performance at the height of her film career, surprising twists and turns in the story line that keeps the audience guessing every moment how Judy Benjamin's lifelong journey will end up, and one of the finest casts of any comedy film ever made. The richly drawn characters of each member of the supporting cast is what helps make this film so memorable and even unique. Eileen Brennan's Captain Lewis is beyond inspired. She is a joy to watch every second she is on the screen. And each member of Judy's army unit - the poor overweight nebbish, the tough girl criminal, the Southern Belle is so perfectly cast and written, that one feels like they know their whole life's story. Then there's Judy's family - upper class Jewish stereotypes made famous by the Borscht Belt comedians - but SO funny! And the eccentric Euro-trash - uh-oh, more stereotypes. But again SO funny. Even though fun is poked at these characters endlessly, they somehow become real people, that the audience cares about - laughs at - but cares about. This is a real credit to the writers of the screenplay and again the great casting. With so much going on, so many characters, so many situations, be it a wedding, a funeral, boot camp, Paris in the Springtime, this film could so easily have become an unwieldy three ring circus. BUT, holding it all together is the magnificent Goldie Hawn, with her unflappable good spirits, her million dollar smile, her Laugh-In Go-Go girl good looks, and her disarming charm. This was a role in a lifetime for Goldie Hawn, and she more than rose to the occasion. She helped create a classic American Film. And oh the priceless moments in the film: Captain Lewis' Blue Shower (no one in the audience ever saw that coming); the stoned Campfire chat of the soldiers - notice how it goes from absolute hilarity to that wonderful look of wistfulness on Judy's face; Judy's Turkish Boss' accent; Judy's friends joyful dance to "We Are Family"; and the intriguing unresolved ending. Haven't we all wondered whatever happened to our beloved Judy Benjamin after she walked down that long forest pathway at the end of the film? But her independence and growing strength, and all those wonderful characters she fought with and embraced in her life journey at a turning point in her life keep dancing and struggling and crying and laughing in our minds long after the film has ended.