Volunteers

A 1985 American comedy film directed in the USA by Nicholas Meyer. The story follows Lawrence Bourne III (Tom Hanks), a spoiled Yale University graduate of the Class of 1962, who accrues a $28,000 gambling debt. When his father (George Plimpton) refuses to pay off the debt, Lawrence evades his angry creditors by swapping places with his college roommate and joining the Peace Corps in Thailand. On the flight, he meets patriotic Tom Tuttle from Tacoma (John Candy) and pragmatic Beth Wexler (Rita Wilson), who rebuffs his advances upon learning his true motives. In Thailand, they are assigned by John Reynolds (Tim Thomerson) to build a bridge for the local villagers. However, the bridge attracts the attention of the CIA, communist forces, and local drug lord Chung Mee (Ernest Harada). Tuttle is captured and brainwashed by communists, while Reynolds is revealed to be collaborating with Chung Mee. Lawrence, with the help of local villager At Toon (Gedde Watanabe), teaches the villagers card games and orchestrates Beth's rescue. In the film's climax, they demolish the bridge to prevent its exploitation. After the rescue, Lawrence and Beth marry in the village, and Lawrence writes to his parents, stating he finally did something right for the right reasons.