Movie Review: Private Valentine: Blonde and Dangerous (2008)

Synopsis: A successful but clueless movie star, Megan Valentine, learns her accountant has stolen all her money and her relationship with her boyfriend is a sham. Upset, she crashes her car and, walking away while getting drunk on a bottle of wine, passes out in front of an Army recruiting center. Taking advantage of her vulnerable state, the recruiter convinces her to enlist and she immediately discovers basic training is nothing like he told her it would be.

Who's in it? The movie stars Jessica Simpson, Vivica A. Fox, Steve Guttenberg, Aimee Garcia and Olesya Rulin.




Review: I had seen this film on one of my movie channels but didn't think it looked interesting. However, I came across it again a couple days ago while waiting for my daughter to finish her homework and, since there was nothing else on TV, just left it on. After seeing the movie, my first impression was confirmed.

I don't necessarily think it was a terrible movie, at least it wasn't as bad as it could have been. It's just, other than the cast, there's really nothing that sets this film apart from any other movie involving someone joining the military on a whim and finding out they don't belong - Stripes, Private Benjamin, In the Army Now, and Cadet Kelly are just a few that followed basically the same formula first.

I also feel as though this movie couldn't really decide which direction to take when it came to portraying women in the military. There were moments when it seemed to want to portray women as strong and independent but then it would do things like have the cadets break into a room for chocolate because they were having PMS and, of course, Valentine (Simpson), needed a love interest because apparently a woman's life isn't complete unless they have a boyfriend (at least according to movies like this one).

I will say I did like the way the movie ended, mostly because it wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be and it was great seeing Valentine use some of the things she learned in basic training to get her civilian life in order.  It's just too bad the rest of the movie really doesn't do the ending justice.

Final Opinion: As I said, it wasn't as bad as it could have been but there's nothing about this movie that sets it apart from plenty of other similar movies. At best, this is an average rip-off of much better films.

My Grade: C

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