Major Payne
Short description
Major Benson Winifred Payne is a career Marine with no life outside the service. When he is passed over for promotion and discharged, he struggles to adjust to civilian life. His former commander arranges a position for him: he is to take charge of the JROTC program at a local school, where the cadets are unmotivated and undisciplined. Payne's harsh methods and rigid expectations clash with the students, though over time the group begins to work together.
The film was directed by Nick Castle, whose earlier credits include The Last Starfighter, The Boy Who Could Fly and Dennis the Menace. Damon Wayans stars as Major Payne and also co-wrote the screenplay with Dean Lorey and Gary Rosen. The supporting cast includes Karyn Parsons, Steven Martini, Orlando Brown, William Hickey and Michael Ironside.
Released in March 1995, the film runs 95 minutes and was produced by Universal Pictures and Wife 'n' Kids on a budget of about 31 million dollars. Its worldwide box office came to roughly 30 million dollars, a modest return against its production cost. On IMDb it holds a rating of 6.3 from around 43,000 votes, while on TMDB it has 6.5 from roughly 900 votes. A critics' rating of 4.5 from 14 reviews places it well below the audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- Biker Bam Bam Bigelow (Scott Bigelow), hired by the Major's charges to deal with the hated instructor, is a professional wrestler in real life.
- While dancing at the party, the major several times uses the style of Michael Jackson.
- The song playing during Payne’s dreams of his own home, family, and children is the theme song from “The Donna Reed Show” (1958-1966). Notably, the cadet leading the school platoon is named the same as Donna’s husband from the series, Alex Stone (played by Steven Martini/Carl Betz).
- The hotel scene was taken from the film “Apocalypse Now”.
- In the film, Major Payne (Damon Wayans) tells cadet Kevin “Tiger” Dunn (Orlando Brown) a story about a little train. In reality, “The Little Engine That Could” is a quite well-known American children’s tale about optimism and hard work. Payne’s version only shares the beginning with it; the ending doesn’t inspire optimism.
- In one scene, Major Payne tells his charges: “Apparently, what we have here, is a failure to communicate!” This is a famous quote from the film “Cool Hand Luke” (1967).
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