Surprising

Rating: 8/10 (23 November 2009)

To be honest, I didn't have much expectations for this film--I thought it would be a quirky for the sake of quirky type of indie that comes along with a barrage of random weirdness and unfocused, ill-crafted ideas (or, more precisely, anti-ideas) that end of just as unoriginal and thoughtless as the regular car-chase-and-explosion-stuffed blockbuster. I was wrong. The Men Who Stare At Goats, while not quite the thinking man's comedy, clearly sets out for that goal, grasping sometimes with desperate, ridiculous effort or sometimes with weightless ease. About two men on a psychic, visionary 'mission' (if that is the adequate term) for--actually, just what was the point of their mission? Nonetheless, it makes for lovely viewing. Or at least funny viewing. The jokes pulled and made throughout are the types that really try to make you laugh. Admittedly, they worked in this movie. Sometimes, they even give into insights and truly profound thoughts--glimpses of vision and genius--that all come into a stumbling, lost, paceless place, both fun and self-indulgent. The movie, with performances well-played with smoothness and ease, is written, designed, and shot just right, and remains funny and intelligent--and that last scene,where chaos and peace come together in a fit of mass LSD tripping--is simply glorious.