A story so unbelievable it has to be true

Rating: 8/10 (29 November 2009)

It's tough to single out the lone factor led to The Men Who Stare at Goats being so hilarious. Was it George Clooney's impeccable comedic timing or the fact that Ewan McGregor played a Jedi in the Star Wars trilogy and was now reporting on how the US government trained soldiers to be just that? Whatever way you look at it, this is one heck of a funny movie.
Based on the outrageously true story by Jon Ronson, filmmaker Grant Heslov in his feature film debut brings to life this story about Bob Wilton (McGregor), a young reporter who goes to Iraq during the Gulf War to try and find a story worth telling. He ends up stumbling upon an undercover US military operation known as the Army's First Earth Battalion. This special branch's sole purpose was to create a non-lethal form of fighting enemies using psychic and telepathic means to disarm, interpret, and engage during times of distress and war.
The man who shows Wilton the ways of the psychic warrior is Lyn Cassady (Clooney), who tells Wilton that he has been reactivated and is currently on a top secret mission. The two embark on a journey through the desert, small towns, and through the mind.
I have to say that without Clooney's performance I don't know if this movie would have made it. His facial expressions and his screen presence are so powerful and outrageous that no matter what he is doing, be it trying to burst a cloud with his mind or locating missing army personnel thousands of miles away. His character is so ridiculous that you just have to go with it.
He is not alone though. Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges play other members of the "psychic soldier" unit, both offering their own unique brand of comedy. Along with McGregor's witty comebacks and comments, the group will keep you laughing from start to finish.
The one thing the movie lacked was that spark that set it apart from other comedies. Yes the writing was above average and yes, the performances were just as good, but there was nothing that made me say, "Wow." The real winner here is the story and the writing and acting give it the spark to make it dance and sing.
It's not the funniest movie I've seen, but it's one of the most interesting and intriguing stories that you can't get enough of. You'll laugh, you'll laugh some more, and you'll have a lot of questions to send to your state representative.