Whiffs (1975)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Awesome Movie

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I actually saw this movie 1st run in a theatre...and apparently it has not gotten funnier since...nor have I seen it as a rental anywhere...so that might indicate that it ain't gonna garner any post-production love...Elliott Gould is wasted as a private who is cut loose from the Army where he was a human guinea pig for testing chemical warfare agents (there is one scene that may be squeamish to some as Gould is testing an agent as a needle moves up and down in his arm)...and he decides that using his knowledge and supposed immunity to commit a bank robbery is a good idea...hiring Godfrey Cambridge as a pilot, however, is not...although Cambridge's portrayal of Dusty is the funniest part of the movie...and it all wraps up unneatly at the end...but it is a comedy, so figure it out...it is amazing to me how many poorly-made films are on the Net, costing more than they should...and Whiffs! is right there...Gould can be excused for this one since he made 'MASH'...an Army movie that IS good...if you stumble upon Whiffs!, and you have about 100 minutes to kill with no conception of any socially redeeming value, then by all means rent it, check your brain and common sense at the door, and enjoy it...but Gould, Cambridge, Eddie Albert, Harry Guardino, and others are misused...and that is sad...

It is a satire and is not contaminated as one previous comment suggests. Senses of humor vary and this comedy is slightly dark with a universal message. The opening scene is unique and original. A scene regarding one of the controlled biologist agents "test" with Harry Guardino and Elliot Gould is very funny occurring while they try to carry on a conversion. It should be re-released in DVD format.Thanks,Mike

I liked the kind of idea that WHIFFS had: an Army soldier on a medical discharge who plans to make history since World War I by contaminating a small town only to rob banks. Very strange, indeed! Despite its satiric message on chemical warfare (and to take on M*A*S*H for the time), it didn't contain enough comedy and it simply tries too hard at it. It suffers unrealistically as well. There is some considerably poor acting most of the time, and if you're not deaf, you may hear somebody behind camera making noises on Elliot Gould's gaseous state. The songs were nothing special to bring home Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, either. Much improved humorous detail would've helped this one greatly. A nice shot at making a nifty satire at life after the military, but it left me wanting more. Rent this one and see what you think.