Is this the time for non-serious military flicks? Am I making a mockery of the troops in the Gulf by seeing this? Maybe I'm just full of myself (stop nodding).

Could be. I'm embarrassed to have seen this in time of war, or any time, really.

Ooh, it's got the military stencil font, must be about soldiers! Takes place among American troops in Panama, must have something to do with drugs! "Profit and death" is certainly the ringing theme, not to mention manipulating the audience beyond belief with a dozen different twists.

The plot begins with a group of Rangers take a training exercise during a hurricane (it rains the entire movie - a LOT). Only two make it home, one of whom is seriously injured. That story is told in flashbacks, in a Rashomon-like (but one-tenth as well done) version of events where everyone has a divided idea of what happened.

Base investigator Connie Nielsen is over her head, so former Ranger and current DEA interrogator John Travolta is called in to find out the hows and whys of the fiasco. Travolta is pithy and witty, and "can get in your head faster than you can tie your shoes." Not to mention tries to get in Connie's pants faster than you can roll your eyes.

Nielsen is "hostile and uncooperative," and naturally there's (supposed to be) chemistry between her and Travolta. Um, yeah, whatever. There was more believable love interest between Nielsen and Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator.

Meanwhile, Sam Jackson plays, well, Sam Jackson. He has one setting: Over-the-top, which is just fine, because you can tell he has fun with every part. Jackson has style and charisma, which is all I ask.

In support there are plenty of recognizable actors, including Harry Connick, Jr., Giovanni Ribisi, Taye Diggs and even Joe from "Wings" (Timothy Daly), who isn't nearly as cute without Helen (Crystal Bernard) on his arms and Brian (Steven Weber) harping from the hangar.

The movie begins promising enough, but after a few scenes it becomes apparent Basic is wasted with too many bad accents, too much over-acting by everyone involved and too many twists left me tired and by the end, I just wanted the movie to be over. Even worse, ultimately, the finale was solid, but I don't recommend sitting through the first 90 minutes to find the little satisfaction.

Basic is discomfortingly full of trivial military infighting, drug-running, corruption and racism. Blah. Today isn't the time, despite any truth that there are a few bad apples in the military. This movie insults the entire enterprise.