April 4, 1995 -- ``Major Payne'' is the latest film from ``In Living Color'' star Damon Wayans. Wayans' last comedy film attempt, ``Blankman'' was a failure, but this one actually succeeds.

Wayans plays an unbelievably dedicated U.S. Marine who can't seem to adjust to civilian life. He is totally unable to maintain normal human relationships. His idea of fun is to hang upside down and assemble and disassemble his gun until his nose bleeds.

Major Payne is so out of touch he's funny. As unlikely as it seems this strange character becomes endearing after a while. While Payne does soften and become more human as the movie goes on, he still maintains his own wacky integrity.

The story is a familiar one. Payne gets a job as a drill instructor for an ROTC program at a boarding school. The kids hate him and try to get rid of him the same way the recruits did in ``Heartbreak Ridge.'' There's a girl. There's a military contest with another school. You know the rest. The thing that makes this movie work is the unique character created by Wayans and his scary, but funny dialogue. It's not much of a story, but it's a great piece of acting. This movie rates a C+.

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