War, Inc. (2008)

You'll Love It or Hate It: Grosse Point Goes to Iraq on LSD

Most people will NOT enjoy this movie, but a select few will find it provocatively funny. War, Inc. is an almost surreal blend of Dr. Strangelove, Grosse Point Blank, Fargo, Apocalypse Now, and a cerebral National Lampoon movie (if such a contradiction in terms were possible... imagine Animal House Goes to Iraq). Don't bother if you're annoyed by convoluted subplots backfilled by indiscriminate flashback scenes, or looking for a good laugh in a light romantic comedy.

Despite an all-star cast (John Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Hilary Duff, Joan Cusack, Ben Kingsley and Dan Akroyd), War, Inc. will fall flat for most people. Set in a fictional third-world Islamic country, this satire of the American military-industrial complex is a blatant backdrop for further jabs at the Cheney/Halliburton/Blackwater junta. John Cusack's ability to write some of the cleverest dialogue in modern cinema allows his character to be interesting and sometimes brilliant, (especially when interacting with Marisa Tomei and Hilary Duff). Good acting and interesting dialogue will not be enough for the average viewer to enjoy this film. Offensively hilarious scenes (a chorus line of local war amputees on prosthetic legs) will either leave the viewer rolling on the floor or slack-jawed in revulsion.

There's something reminiscent in War, Inc. of the failed 1983 film, Deal of the Century, another satire of the military industrial complex with a great cast (Chevy Chase, Sigourney Weaver and Gregory Hines). Unlike the mediocre Deal of the Century, Cusacks' newest film is more like Fargo in the sense you'll either love or hate it; but unlike Fargo, I think the vast majority of viewers will fall on the wrong side of getting the punch line. Like a Big Mac, this film blends a lot of different ingredients together (perhaps too many), and like a Big Mac, you'll either be delighted or disgusted... which is why I gave it 3 stars, because you'll give it either 1 or 5.

You'll like this movie if:
You prefer watching Dr. Strangelove or Grosse Point Blank after a six pack or some mind-altering substance.

You'll dislike this movie if:
You want a straightforward laugh, are looking forward to Hilary Duff reprising her usual rolls, can't stand political satire, or are expecting a repeat of Grosse Point Blank.
November 17, 2008

Worst Cusack movie ever

You get the point 5 minutes in. Zero funny, 100% boring. A very painful movie. November 12, 2008

Funny in a different way

This is not so much a laugh out loud movie as it is a smirk and giggle movie. It is thoroughly entertaining if you accept it for what it is, a parody or satire. I always like John Cusak as a hit man for some reason, Hillary Duff making fun of popstars is somehow fitting and for the first time, I found myself wanting to smack something other than her face. She really is FINE in this movie and funny to boot. I am a contractor myself and making fun of the way we are privatizing war and companys like Halliburtan is always good fun! I bought it, you may want to rent it first. November 7, 2008

If you want to think and laugh, too...try watching this.

This film was awakening, so I must give them a thumb up for trying so hard to be a part of the War in Iraq and the presidential elections, while really being a political satire moving into the mainstream of comedy in the media by challenging reality with metaphorical drama. If there were a sequel, I think that John (Brand Hauser) and Marisa should have a baby so that Hilary (Kara)can have a sibling since not everyone likes being an only child. Either way, I think John Cusack is learning more about what he can do in film and how people react to him. He also made a record by not paying for advertising or marketing and using almost only MySpace. You can read from him and his brother William Cusack online at Huffington Post about political views. November 7, 2008

War, Inc.

It has been compared to "Grosse Pointe Blank" and with some good reason. Although they are distinctly different movies they have similar themes of an assassin that isn't happy with his work. Once again a female gives him some distraction from his mundane work of illiminating threats to his government, no matter how ridiculous. I'm a fan of Cusack and his sister anyway but I was not disappointed in the least in the action and comedy in this movie. If you can't draw any parallels to current world events and political blunders you aren't getting it. I recommend it. If you enjoyed this catch "Con Air".

CA Luster November 4, 2008

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