Fact paced comedy about serious things, but not much more

Rating: 6/10 (19 October 2017)

Even if you didn't read about Barry Seal or see Dennis Hopper as Barry Seal in 1991. movie, it's obvious that this movie is taking artistic freedom in depicting these events. Seal was a DEA informant who "touched base" w/CIA, yet in this Tom Cruise movie, he's an informal CIA agent who's playing a cat-and-mouse game w/DEA. Sure, writers were smart to base the movie on Seal's "self made testimony videos" (invented for this purpose) and he does have the liberty to tell his story however he likes. But, it doesn't help much, smart as it is.
If you disregard that, you have an interesting comedy which deals with serious things, yet mostly uses them to get some (funny) "what the hell" reaction.
While Tom Cruise would be a bad choice to play a more realistic version of Barry Seal and Dennis Hopper did a _much_ better job there, Cruise is actually better suited for this comedic interpretation. He did a good job. There's not much to do for other actors, who mostly do their job "good enough".
It has a rarely seen structure for a comedy, with a high point in the middle, accompanied by "Classic Music Greatest Hits", including the William Tell Overture, Ode to Joy, etc. Before that, it's too fast paced and not very serious but not very funny either (though it is fun). Afterwards, it's regularly paced and somewhat serious, but more funny (and less fun).
It has very interesting moments, like when FBI agents come to the town of Mena, where Barry has his base of operations, only to find that the small town's main street is filled with luxurious local banks (in which Seal has deposited most of his money). It's a perfect scene for a movie, where just showing you this view, with no words, you get everything you need to know.
There were many missed opportunities to put a more interesting, if less fun or funny, light on these events and that is one of the main reasons why this movie isn't as good as it can be. Other's are that it's directing is somewhat strange, although not without interesting elements and that it has a general feel of a Tom Cruise vehicle, rather than a "regular movie". But, it's good enough.