mj2001:
I'm pretty sure there's a scene in 'Trading Places' when Eddie Murphy is faking being disabled in the beginning of the movie and trying to convince the cops it was from military service like you're describing.
It could be, but somehow I still have Leslie Nielsen's face on my inner eye. it could be the drunk who's impersonating Goldie Hawn's father in the comedy in which she has moved in with Steve Martin (can't recall the name of that one either). Damn; someone should be able to remember this without having to go back and check those movies.