Renaissance Man (Army Intelligence) (By the Book) (1994)

17% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(29,865 ratings)

Penny Marshall's feel-good comedy, invoking parts of Dead Poet's Society, Sister Act, and Private Benjamin, features Danny DeVito as Bill Rago, a divorced advertising man who is fired from his job. During an appointment at the unemployment office, a counselor finds him a job as a civilian instructor… More Penny Marshall's feel-good comedy, invoking parts of Dead Poet's Society, Sister Act, and Private Benjamin, features Danny DeVito as Bill Rago, a divorced advertising man who is fired from his job. During an appointment at the unemployment office, a counselor finds him a job as a civilian instructor at the local Army base. At the base, he is assigned a group of eight army hardcases. Rago is supposed to increase this group's "basic comprehension." Sweating it out and unable to interest his students in anything, he finally latches onto Shakespeare. He turns the lecture into a master class on Hamlet with the students converting the Shakespeare tragedy into a rap musical. Looking askance at all this is drill sergeant Cass (Gregory Hines), who feels that the whole class is a waste of time. Finally winning the respect of his students, Rago now has to win the hearts and minds of the contemptuous Cass and his staff. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 9 min.
Directed By: Penny Marshall
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 3, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Jul 1, 2003

Critic Reviews

Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Having taken basic training at Ft Jackson, SC this film had a lot of memories for me. Plus Penny Marshall autographed my "League of Their Own" poster for me after the premiere.
Fred Topel, About.com
Okay "heartwarming" drama. Tries too hard, but mostly works.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lucas M

Penny Marshall's Renaissance Man almost could be a really good film. Unfortunately, the script is so repeated.
Jason O

I can't believe that only 10 people have wrote a review for "Renaissance Man." I thought it was a lot more popular than that and I know that it deserves all the praise and popularity that it can get! Bill Rago (Danny DeVito) takes a job as a teacher in the Army even… More
I can't believe that only 10 people have wrote a review for "Renaissance Man." I thought it was a lot more popular than that and I know that it deserves all the praise and popularity that it can get! Bill Rago (Danny DeVito) takes a job as a teacher in the Army even though he doesn't have any teaching experience and doesn't really want the job. Yeah I agree that that does sound a little far fetched, but not all movies have to tell a true story! Bill doesn't exactly know what to teach about, so he just teaches the 'students' about something he really likes, the book, Hamlet. Will the army students enjoy learning about Hamlet or will they think it's boring? Will Bill Rago be a good teacher or a fluke? I recommend watching the movie to find out. I thought "Renaissance Man" was a great movie. Unlike what many people might think or might had heard about it previously, it's not really a full-fledged comedy movie. Danny DeVito is hilarious in the movie and the part that I'll remember the most from the whole movie is one of the funniest parts I've ever seen in any movie!! I couldn't quit laughing at the part where Danny DeVito got to the top of a tall place in the army, and he has to try and work his way down with a rope even though he's TERRIFIED of heights. "Renaissance Man" has a few other hilarious parts, but really when it all comes down to it, it's more of a drama movie and more of a feel-good movie than it is a comedy. Not that that's bad, but that's the only complaint I have whatsoever about the movie, it could've had a few more hilarious parts where more people would have given it rave reviews and remembered it the rest of their lives. However, it wasn't bad enough to take away any of my rating for it, so I still give it a 5. If you like great comedy/drama movies, I recommend getting "Renaissance Man." You'll laugh your head off and feel the drama at the same time. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. That's just BS...this was 8½ years ago that I first saw the part where Devito's trying to scale down a wall? Seems like yesterday!
Dan S

Enjoyable enough to check it out. Features a young Wahlberg, and Danny DeVito is very funny.
danny d

pretty funny
Jason S

I remember seeing it when i was younger. It was funny.

Cast

            Danny DeVito as Bill Rago

            Gregory Hines as Sgt. Cass

            James Remar as Capt. Murdoch

            Cliff Robertson as Col. James

            Lillo Brancato Jr. as Donnie Benitez

            Stacey Dash as Private Miranda Myers

            Kadeem Hardison as Private Jamaal Montgomery

            Richard T. Jones as Pvt. Jackson Leroy

            Khalil Kain as Private Roosevelt Hobbs

            Peter Simmons as Brian Davis

            Ed Begley Jr as Jack Markin

            Ann Cusack as Bill's Secretary

            Tony Danza
            
            R.M. Haley as Florist

            Randy Hall as Henry V Lead Actor

            Isabella Hofmann as Marie

            Jenifer Lewis as Mrs. Coleman

            Jim Ochs as Customs Officer

            Gregory Sporleder as Pvt. Mel Melvin

            Nat Mauldin as U Love To Rent

            Paul Abbott as 2nd Young Executive

            Paula Herold
            
            Alanna Ubach as Emily Rago

            Gary DeWitt Marshall as Traffic MP

            Mark Wahlberg as Private Heywood

            Ben Wright as Private Oswald
See full cast