Parents' Guide to

Jarhead 2: Field of Fire

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Graphic violence, language in Afghanistan war movie sequel.

Movie R 2014 103 minutes
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

In JARHEAD 2: FIELD OF FIRE, Corporal Chris Merrimette (Josh Kelly) is sent on his first mission as a team leader. He's to lead his contingent of tight-knit Marines through some of the most dangerous Taliban-held territory in Afghanistan to resupply a remote outpost. Along the way, they're flagged down by Navy SEAL Special Ops Fox (Cole Hauser), who enlists them on a mission of international importance. Fox is escorting Anoosh, an Afghan dissident woman who has become a symbol of resistance to the Taliban, to safety so she can give a speech at the United Nations. But the mission takes a terrible turn when Merrimette and his fellow Marines are ambushed by Taliban forces, resulting in casualties and no way to get back to the Green Zone except by walking. Now, Merrimmette, who has only been involved in supply missions up to this point, must trudge through "the most dangerous place on Earth" with no communication and no air support, and only Fox's experience with the land and its people to help them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

For a sequel having nothing to do with the original, this is a better-than-expected war movie. While Jarhead 2: Field of Fire definitely has quite a few of the tropes and cliches that have defined the war movie genre since at least World War II, the sense of a culture and espirit de corps among Marines comes through in ways far beyond simply saying "Semper Fi" and "Ooorah" on a regular basis. There's also an understanding that most audiences have long outgrown the fantasies of jingoistic '80s war movies where "the good guys" never die, and "the bad guys" die by the hundreds, particularly in a war American soldiers have been fighting for a generation. The movie doesn't shy away from the complications and casualties.

That said, in spite of above average acting (for war movies) across the board and exciting battle scenes, the story itself is formulaic. Like horror movies, it doesn't take a genius to guess which characters are about to get killed. The closer we get to Act 3, the more the movie begins to channel its inner Rambo, relying more and more on shoot-em-up violence to bring the movie to the expected conclusion. Nonetheless, the movie defies its low expectations, providing some engaging moments and an earnest effort to present the bravery and honor of Marines without sugarcoating the horror of war.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about war movies. How does Jarhead 2: Field of Fire compare to other war movies you've seen?

  • Why do you think Hollywood would make a "sequel" to a movie that has very little to do with the original story and none of the original cast?

  • What are some of the ways in which the movie tries to convey a realistic sense of Marine culture?

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