Quirky and Entertaining

Rating: 8/10 (20 January 2019)

9 January 2010. This quirky movie is a blast with elements of GOOD MORNING, Vietnam (1987) and both intelligent, off-beat humor and suggestive moralizing that isn't overly obnoxious, but as in the movie subliminally supplied with ample doses. George Clooney initially presents his character as he has recently been tending towards in his straight-faced comedy, but then emerges especially with flashbacks with a entirely enticing and new persona rarely seen on screen. Ewan McGregor gets to stretch his acting with a different character breaking out from his on-screen persona (Moulin Rouge, 2001). Oddly, Kevin Spacey seems to be miscast in his beginning scenes and feels uncomfortable not only as his scene calls for but even in his undeveloped intrusion into the film, though later for better or worse, his innate comedic talent and more public character comes to the fore later in the movie. There is much to like in this off-beat, off-balanced movie, though the beginning introduction of McGregor also seems abit awkward and either unnecessary or not smoothly engaging. Overall, this movie is out of the box and retains a great light entertainment even as the more sobering experiences of war are exposed in this movie. This movie is the more lighter side counterpart to INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009) that same out the same year. 8/10.