Nothing funnier then watching a goat fall over

Rating: 8/10 (11 November 2009)

Seeing that a lot of American comedy nowadays are just cheap goss out comedy, rom-coms or aim for cheap jokes, it is refreshing to see a really quirky comedy with real actors and a fun script.
Loosely based on the book by British journalist Jon Ronson, the Men Who Stare at Goats tells the story of the American Army's secret project the New Earth Army. Led by Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) The New Earth Army tries to use New Age techniques to create psychic soldiers for the military, with the aim to use their powers for non-lethal reasons, such as finding lost people. Whilst in Kuwait Michigan based journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), the best of the psychic soldiers (or Jedi Knights as his likes to call them). Bob looking for adventure joins Lyn on a mission into Iraq during the middle of the American invasion.
This film has a quick wit, having moments of satire and dark comedy. It personally reminded me of Dr. Strangelove, with a little Full Metal Jacket and Burn After Reading in the mix. They is a satire of elements of the war such as the use of private contractors in Iraq, to the make-up of the American military. They are also some serious topics such as the use of psychological warfare and torture. There are excellent jokes, gags and wit throughout the film. There are smart comments to visual gags. This was a cleverly written script by Peter Straughan and well directed by Grant Heslov.
They is a great cast in the film, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor and Stephen Lang. They are all funny, even Kevin Spacey and Ewan McGregor whom roles are more serious then the others. Jeff Bridges was brilliant, playing a role similar to The Big Lebowski character the dude. George Clooney enjoy these quirky roles and entering in this role. Kevin Spacey plays a slimy villain again, but he is so good at it. Even Stephen Lang was funny in the film.
Well worth watching.