Dead Serious Humor

Rating: 8/10 (4 July 2017)

It's hard to write a review on this film without also making a spoiler or two, but I'll try hard not to. In stead I'll recommend to check out the true story about Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, but I'm not shore if you should do it before or after watching the biographical fiction version, that is some kind of a comedy. The true story is hilarious, but it's really not at all funny. In the fiction there is one bad and one good guy, though in my beliefs there are no good guys in arms dealing. To avoid the spoiling I won't say who is who, but must warn, if you read the true story, it may be a spoiler any how. The film about the two youngsters getting into hard core arms dealing is made as a black comedy, and because it's based on a real life story, it emerges as dead serious humor at its very best. With steady direction, brilliant acting and a half documentary style both in how camera and locations are used, and also top notch casting in the other roles, the total result is a film and story even Guy Ritchie couldn't match. He would be proud. There are more than one over all issue and moral of the story. First, don't get into something you absolutely can't control and have no experience with. Second, maybe one day you have to discover that even your best friend turns out to be one of your worst enemies - at least if you get in to serious business with big boys and hard cash. Third and most important, war is big business, perhaps the biggest and your government are just as little trustworthy as any other participant in the game. War Dogs is one of the best black comedies I have seen in years - even though it's not really funny.