“The Men Who Stare at Goats” is a fun, tongue-in-cheek comedy with a cast of crazy and quirky characters.   Its a slick story filled with smiling sarcasm as the movie makes fun of itself while its telling the story.

For me it wasn’t too crazy or quirky, but it might be a little too much for some, which is why I’m giving the split suggestion: SEE IT if you saw the trailer, the poster, or a clip and thought it looked fun – you’ll probably enjoy it… but WAIT TO RENT if you haven’t heard of the movie/weren’t convinced it was worth your time at the theater… although you might like it.

(My spoiler-free review)

I know that some of those “critics” out there didn’t like this movie for whatever reason… but the more I think about it, the more I like this movie FOR WHAT IT WAS… not what you might have thought it was going to be or expected more from *before* seeing it.

This movie is plain and simply a funny and original story of a bunch of characters that you would think should be living on the Funny Farm if you met them in real life.  They are goofy, wierd, odd, crazy, and then you hear their story: they believe they are part of a special group of psychic spies.

Its okay, I didn’t spoil anything: you get that information early on.. or from the trailer… the cool thing is we, the audience, get to go along on this journey to discover the truth/absurdity of these claims with reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor).  And I love the disclaimer at the beginning of the movie: “More of this is true than you would believe”… which says a lot and nothing at the same time - setting the tone early, so does the scene that follows.. and the next scene and the next.

The exchange between Bob and Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) in the hotel room in Kuwait after they first meet is great: a guy that doesn’t believe and is trying to seriously want to understand and a guy who is totally convinced of what he is saying… Lyn even admits that its crazy/mind blowing stuff.   Clooney is great in this role as the leading man of this dry comedy adventure plays like a buddy road trip movie with several fun scenes in the desert…and beyond.

Jeff Bridges is perfect as hippie unit leader Bill Django: a cross between the dude in “The Big Lebowksi” (1998) and a “Shawman” as Bob refers to him… seriously commited to his spiritual military work.

The other supporting cast are also solid, including Kevin Spacey as the renegade of the group and Stephen Root who first tells Bob about the group.   Overall, the guys in the unit are oddballs that only feel like they fit in when after they join this group.

The movie’s tongue is firmly placed in its cheek while making numerous Star Wars references:  Lyn tells Bob he was a Jedi Warrior and Bob (McGregor who was a Jedi in three Star Wars prequels) asks “what’s a Jedi warrior?”… they are keeping the peace… unit leader is Django (like Jango Fett in Star Wars prequels)… Lyn says “its the Jedi in you that senses”… Bill says “Force is truly strong with this one”… President Reagan allegedly supporting the psychic spies unit because he was a fan of the Star Wars movies… “using powers for good”.

But its not just references to the galaxy far, far away: there are also references that include Angela Lansbury, “Silence of the Lambs”, and Barney’s “I Love You” song.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

The movie is smug, crass, and funny and never takes itself too seriously… and despite the Star Wars references: its an original story idea!!!   I give it 8.0 out of 10.  The characters believe in something so much that Bob and the audience actually start to believe that their story is true…. or is it a farce?

PS – Thank you to Overture Films: the trailer gives us just enough to be interested, but yet not too much so we know the scenes are coming and/or have all the funniest scenes used in the trailer and leave just a few laughs behind. 

  “The Men Who Stare at Goats”

(2009) (rated: R for language, some drug content and brief nudity)
(1 hr, 33 min)

Starring: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Lang, Robert Patrick, Waleed Zuaiter, Stephen Root, Glenn Morshower, Nick Offerman, Tim Griffin, Rebecca Mader,

Jacob Browne, Todd La Tourrette, Brad Grunberg

Director: Grant Heslov

Genre: Comedy/War

The Plot: A reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady, a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army’s First Earth Battalion, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

 
“The Men Who Stare At Goats” poster courtesy Overture Films

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