Entertaining but Superficial !!

Rating: 7/10 (20 August 2016)

An hour into War Dogs last nite, I was wondering what is tone of the movie director Todd Philips and the writers (incl him) trying to maintain.
At one moment I thought, the movie is trying to be another 'The Wolf of Wall Street' while another moment, I could see 'The Social Network'. And throughout the film, you could see references to many other Hollywood films.
But where the director misses the cut is that The Wolf of Wall Street and Social Network had an emotional core which War Dogs doesn't have. At any moment, one doesn't feel sad or bad for the main leads nor feel their anxiety or happiness.
However, the film is one joy ride from start to end if you're ready to overlook the lack of core as I did.
Its a fabulous true life story of two 20 year old Jews who become arms suppliers for the US Govt. And in one fabulous sequence, they drive from Jordan to Iraq with truck laden with guns to deliver to the US Army.
Another highlight of the film is that the director never takes sides. He doesn't tell us the war is bad or how poorly the US Govt awards defence contracts.
The performance by the leads is the icing on the cake. Jonah Hill is hilarious as the shallow and devilish Efraim though I could feel the hangover of his role in The Wolf of Wall Street. And Miles Teller beautifully plays the role of a man who trying hard to balance the arms supplier and loving caring husband/father.
Bradley Cooper is effective in a small cameo. However, I felt someone like a Pierce Brosnan would have added more layer to the character than Cooper.
My last word. Keep your expectations low and you will enjoy.