Big Budget Disaster movie

Rating: 1/10 (16 October 2008)

Rarely can so much money have been spent to so little effect, or for so few laughs.Like the recently released, "Step brothers",a funny idea is stretched too thinly over too long a period, and snaps and destroys itself.Awash with in-jokes,visual references to other films and other "knowing" material which was probably quite funny in the set trailer park after a few beers, the humour does not survive the cold light of day.
Stiller, who writes, directs and stars in the film (always dangerous territory) implodes with the self indulgence of it all, and his sister Amy, listed as script supervisor appears to have been absent for the gig.In De Palma's magnificent "Carlitos Way", Sean Penn plays a part so removed from the norm that it is possible to forget that he was in it, whilst revelling in his character's performance.Here, Tom Cruise is virtually slapped across your face before the final "reveal".
I smiled a few times, but didn't laugh once, no-one did at the screening i attended.Which is a shame, because the idea of a war film that turns real does have some decent comic and dramatic possibilities. Few are explore though, as the stellar cast of actors amuse themselves by having a good time - amongst themselves.
Lees money, a smaller cast, shorter running time and a better script were the solution.Avoid.