Low Key WWII caper

Rating: Null/10 (22 February 2014)

Finally watched this one on the big screen today. Get why they moved it to Feb. It has all the right pieces, and is a serviceable piece of drama; but is a tad underwhelming (not in a bad way).
In spite of that, this is very much up Clooney's alley as a filmmaker, and has him not just reuniting with Damon and Blanchett ('The good German'), but also bring along the reclusive Bill Murray, the Coens' Special John Goodman, and the extremely under-used Bob Balaban for the ride, along with Jean Dujardin (given short shrift here) and Hugh Bonneville.
Clooney is not going for WWII epic (Damon should have some déjà vu watching the Normandy sequence, though we're never shown him land either in 'Saving..' or in this one) evidenced by his setting the tone multiple times during the flick, with no grandstanding or bravado diverting the mission-at-hand, though the clunky voice- over by his character feels shoehorned, and we could have done without it.
Do I wish it had been more rousing, as more critics seemed to be expecting. Actually, no. Low-key is Clooney's style, and he's picked that up from Soderbergh, Corbjin and the like; and is his strength. There have been too many movies that go the epic route, and this is a welcome pace even for the genre itself, so that it doesn't feel tired and wear itself out (IMHO).
All in all, a good time at the movies, but only for those who synchronize their expectations accordingly. And yes, on the big screen - the production design merits that.