IMDb >
Volunteers (1985)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsVolunteers (1985) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 10 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
16 August 1985 (USA)
more
Tagline:
Ready or not, here they come more
Plot:
Lawrence is a rich kid with a bad accent and a large debt. After his father refuses to help him out...
more
| add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Bridge
|
Peace Corps
|
Communist
|
Southeast Asia
|
Debt
more
User Reviews:
A consistently underrated movie.
more (25 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Tom Hanks | ... | Lawrence Whatley Bourne III | |
| John Candy | ... | Tom Tuttle | |
| Rita Wilson | ... | Beth Wexler | |
| Tim Thomerson | ... | John Reynolds | |
| Gedde Watanabe | ... | At Toon | |
| George Plimpton | ... | Lawrence Bourne Jr. | |
| Ernest Harada | ... | Chung Mee | |
| Allan Arbus | ... | Albert Bardenaro | |
| Xander Berkeley | ... | Kent Sutcliffe | |
| Ji-Tu Cumbuka | ... | Cicero | |
| Guillermo Río | ... | Sumo Guard | |
| Jacqueline Evans | ... | Aunt Eunice | |
| Pamela Gual | ... | Tammy the Stewardess | |
| Philip Guilmant | ... | Yale President | |
| Chick Hearn | ... | Announcer |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Tom Hanks and 'Rita Wilson' met while filming this movie and married three years later. Rita Wilson originally met Tom Hanks in 1981 on the set of "Bosom Buddies" (1980) when she guest-starred as Peter Scolari's Satan-worshiping girlfriend. But their relationship wasn't kindled until they were reunited on the set of this movie
more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the graduation scene, the cable to the loan shark's earphone changes position between shots.
more
Quotes:
John Reynolds:
Bourne? Hey, I got a telegram about you.
[Reads telegram]
John Reynolds: You must have some kind of pull back home.
Lawrence Bourne III: Well, we do like to consider Washington our back yard.
John Reynolds: Yep; never seen anything like it. Waiver of training, physical, background check; immediate assignment to the Peace Corps at Loon Ta.
Lawrence Bourne III: What! Loon Ta! You mean I'm in the Peace Corps? There, there must be some mistake!
Tom Tuttle: Hey, Larry, you going to Loon Ta? So am I.
Lawrence Bourne III: Wait a minute, don't tell me he's going too!
more
[Reads telegram]
John Reynolds: You must have some kind of pull back home.
Lawrence Bourne III: Well, we do like to consider Washington our back yard.
John Reynolds: Yep; never seen anything like it. Waiver of training, physical, background check; immediate assignment to the Peace Corps at Loon Ta.
Lawrence Bourne III: What! Loon Ta! You mean I'm in the Peace Corps? There, there must be some mistake!
Tom Tuttle: Hey, Larry, you going to Loon Ta? So am I.
Lawrence Bourne III: Wait a minute, don't tell me he's going too!
more
Movie Connections:
References Casablanca (1942)
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (25 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Volunteers (1985)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Favorite Quote from this movie? | Mister Mysterio |
| Chung Mee's Super-Hot Bodyguard | johnnyb94109 |
| apocalypse now similarity | robotbreath |
| soundtrack? | mattyb154 |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Last Picture Show | La meglio gioventù | Che: Part Two | Jungle Drums of Africa | My Own Private Idaho |
|
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |












Volunteers is a consistently underrated movie. I usually agree with the typical video guide reviews, but I fall out of bed on this one. Volunteers is a very funny, well written, well acted film. It is so packed with humour it reminds me of the old Mad Magazines with the jokes written in the margins. Some of the humour is rather subtle and the dialogue rolls right over it. If you're not paying attention, you might miss it.
Tom Hanks is perfect as Lawrence Bourne III, the Ivy League cad. John Candy is at the top of his form as the brainwashed Tom Tuttle from Tacoma. Geddy Watanabe as the "street smart" Thai gives a performance on par with his Long Duc Dong of Sixteen Candles. And Rita Wilson is totally convincing as the idealistic Peace Corps volunteer out to teach the masses the advantages of Self-Styling Adorn.
If you don't think the ratings are off on this one, I suggest this test. Watch Splash and Volunteers back to back and see which one you think is funnier. Both star Hanks and were made at about the same time. Splash was highly rated by the guides while Volunteers was given mediocre ratings. I think the ratings should be reversed.