The Reel Review
Tired of being bullied and hoping to change his life, a scrawny, teenage gay recruit joins the Marines with his best friend in 1990, just prior to the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell era. The 13-week boot camp has a tremendous impact on him, his friend and fellow recruits. Miles Heizer, Liam Oh, and Max Parker star in this Netflix historical LGBTQ+ dramedy series based on Greg Cope White’s 2015 memoir, “The Pink Marine.”
In addition to the realistic portrait of the grueling, shout-filled military boot camp experience – several recruits wash out and one even tragically dies – Boots also profiles the toxic homophobia and psychological turmoil the lead character (and a few other closeted gay soldiers) experience as they pursue a career path that at that time could end in a moment’s notice should their homosexuality be discovered. Despite the toxicity, seeing Heizer’s character (13 Reasons Why, Parenthood) physically and psychologically transform from a boy to a man over the eight episodes is inspiring. A solid ensemble cast of fellow soldiers provide lots of heartfelt, impactful moments, with Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring: Last Rites) providing civilian comic relief as our recruit’s conniving, cosmetics-selling mother.
Boots manages to combine a modernized mashup of the comedy of the 1980 Goldie Hawn classic Private Benjamin with the thoughtfulness of the Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical 1988 Matthew Broderick-led war dramedy Biloxi Blues. The more effeminate twin “alter ego,” while gimmicky, is an effective way of revealing Cameron’s evolving inner thoughts. Boots is a well-done, contemporary addition to the boot camp experience.
REEL FACTS
• Boots is the final television credit for legendary television pioneer Norman Lear, who signed on to be an executive producer prior to his death in 2023.
• In Greg Cope White’s memoir, which was set in 1979, not 1990, no one in his platoon dies during basic training and the Bowman twins in the series are actually one person who washes out earlier in training. In the book, Cameron and his best friend Ray were among six soldiers promoted from Private to Private First Class, with Ray getting the title of Honor, just as happened in real life.
• Greg Cope White stayed in the Marines for six years after completing basic training, entering Officer Candidate School before opting not to become an officer, receiving an honorable discharge with his highest rank being Sergeant. Cope White got his big break as a writer in 1992, when he was hired to work for Norman Lear’s production company. Cope White is still best friends with his best friend Dale, with whom he went to boot camp.
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