G.I. Jane

Right now you can watch G.I. Jane in the US on YouTube TV — and it moves faster than most of the genre's competition. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. No filler scenes, no spinning wheels between the action. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on YouTube TV.

G.I. Jane arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The choreography in G.I. Jane serves the story instead of interrupting it. In response to political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven, the U.S. Navy begins a program that would allow for the eventual integration of women into its combat services. The program begins with a single trial candidate, Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil, who is chosen specifically for her femininity. Demi Moore and Viggo Mortensen lead a cast that gives the action real stakes. G.I. Jane came out in 1997. What separates G.I. Jane from disposable action entertainment is character work that survives the explosions. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want their entertainment to move fast and not waste a scene, G.I. Jane respects your time. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Demi Moore is the obvious draw, but the supporting cast gives the action the context it needs to land. The action holds up because the character work underneath it never lets up.