Directed by : Todd Phillips
Written by : Stephen Chin, Todd Phillips, Jason Smilovic
Starring : Miles Teller, Jonah Hill, Ana de Armas
Release Date : August 18, 2016
Considering "War Dogs" is marketed as being "from the guy behind the modern classic comedy The Hangover," you would think that this was going to be a raucous comedy. But it's not. Considering this is based on a true story that is suppose to be outrageously stranger than fiction, this movie didn't really play off as being overly-outrageous in tone. Basically, if you're looking to have a "turn-off your brain" fun time at the movies, then this is not for you. However, if you're looking for a strange and interesting look at some of the behind the scenes going-ons during the War On Terror under the George W Bush era, then go see this movie.
The premise of this film is fascinating, and that's arguably what made this biopic rather engaging to watch all the way through. Two drugged out twenty-somethings as gun-runners for the US Government? That's an incredible story about the war that I knew very little about. The movie's narrative is pretty straightforward about the details as well, which makes things easy and uncomplicated to follow. One could argue that it doesn't make the movie very deep, and that's not an entirely false accusation either. If you're looking for themes condemning the fact that the US Government made it too easy for this to happen in the first place, or how far people will go to make money, well the movie does touch on those things. That's not the main subject of the movie though, as it's really about those specific twenty-somethings in this story.
Miles Teller as David Packouz and Jonah Hill as Efraim Diveroli are really good in this. The story is told mostly through Packouz's point of view, so he's the character that we're suppose to sympathize the most with. Diveroli however is the guy we're suppose to have fun watching, because he's the one that gets to joke around more. It's Packouz as the straight man, and Diveroli as the loose cannon. There were several enjoyable scenes to watch them both in; like their trip to the middle east, but usually you're just waiting to see what crazy thing Jonah Hill is going to say or do next. It however only reminds you to wish that this movie actually went all-in crazy in tone, style, and narration.
While "War Dogs" is a good movie the way it is, I personally do wish it didn't try and play it too traditionally as a biopic. I can easily recommend seeing this movie just for the story aspect of it, but it also doesn't really do anything extra special for people to go out of their way to see it either.
lovedit ENJOYED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible
