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The Men Who Stare at Goats
- Review Date: November 4, 2009
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Loopy war comedy's offbeat humor may appeal to teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this offbeat war comedy based on the same-named book by Jon Ronson could be a magnet for teens intrigued by both the loopy humor and stars George Clooney and Ewan McGregor. Drug use -- presented in a humorous context -- plays a key role in a couple of significant scenes, which means that if your kids see it, a good talk about drugging might be in order. There's also drinking and smoking, some fighting and war-related violence, a fair amount of swearing ("f--k," "s--t," and more), and brief partial nudity (topless women and men's buttocks).
What's the story?
Cuckolded Midwestern journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) heads for Iraq to prove to his philandering wife that he still has the goods. He finagles an entry into the country when, by luck, he runs into Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a former troop-mate of Wilton’s source who once revealed that he was part of a little-known unit of the Army that helped soldiers develop psychic powers. They explored how to use peace to stop war, let their bodies be free, danced, and supposedly stopped goats dead in their tracks by staring at them. But the arrival of manipulative soldier Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey) put an end to the experiments. So what happened exactly? And what brings Lyn to Iraq?
Is it any good?
Inspired by journalist Jon Ronson's same-named book, THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS is absurdly entertaining, with beautifully rendered scenery and moments small and big filled with quirk and wit. But, like a raconteur who entertains but never quite gets to the point, this comedy doesn’t, either. Clooney clearly can make any material seem appealing, and with McGregor in the mix, too, how can you go wrong? But the film ultimately feels aimless and doesn't quite get it right -- it seems to be working toward some sort of grand message about peace in wartime or fighting with the mind and not with weapons, but it never quite arrives
Or maybe it really is just about outsiders within the military who make it their own -- with a hefty dose of help from every other New Age movement. (It also milks the Jedi jokes too much. We get it: Obi-Wan in Iraq.) As a character, Bob is particularly problematic, as he’s set up to undergo some kind of transformation. But does he, really? Unfortunately, you're never quite sure. There’s nothing to hang on to, no through line to lead viewers to the payoff.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's timeliness. With wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, check in with your kids about how satirizing combat comes across. What do your kids think?
The movie is clearly satirical, but is there a kernel of truth amid the jokes? If so, what is it?
The movie is supposedly based on a true story. Do you think it's believable? What do you think might have been changed in the course of making the movie? Why would filmmakers adjust the facts?
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AGE
Funny but also dramatic
I thought the movie was pretty good. To me it was a mixture of a drama and a comedy. There was a lot of language though. I thought it was going to be a little funnier but, it was still good.
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AGE
This was a stupid movie, don't waste your time.
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AGE
The Men Who Stare at Goats
Very funny and strange. The title itself might draw off some people, but never judge a book by its cover.
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AGE
Strange comedy with few laughs.
This movie was kind of funny at certain parts. For instance at the end an entire army base is drugged with LSD as a prank, and a naked guy goes on a shooting rampage after undergoing an experiment by a fake psychic. Also some humorous lines here and there. Unfortunately the majority of the movie is flashbacks with no humor. After I left me and my Father both agreed it was the worst movie ever. Now that I look back on it, it wasn't so terrible, but still pretty bad.
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AGE
Intriguing but Poorly Executed.
This is a good movie, but it could have been so much better. This could have been an excellent if not off-beat sci-fi war comedy. All of the cast memebers are good, especially Clooney and McGregor, but Spacey and Bridges seemed not at the top of their game. PARENTS: although the rating description forgot to add "Violence," there is plenty of it. There are deaths, shootings, and even a suicide and an attmpted suicide.
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AGE
ok
dont buy this movie waste of money rent it if you want to see it that bad 15 and over for mild violence language and partial nudity
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| Studio: | Overture Films |
| Director: | Grant Heslov |
| Cast: | Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 93 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 6, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | March 23, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language, some drug content and brief nudity |
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