Parents' Guide to Recon

Recon will probably have the most appeal for war buffs. While it's a passable film about World War II, where it excels in its focus on how the theater of war places a high cost on the soldiers fighting for their countries. The film's heart is Marson; outwardly, he seems to suffer the most, with flashes of the horrors he's seen affecting both his emotions and his stability. Keeley's Joyner is also visibly affected: When he gets anxious or nervous, he scratches at a rash that won't heal. The habit becomes more and more like self-harm; the more anxious he gets, the more he scratches. And the story's focus on mental health doesn't just include the American soldiers at the center of the film. It also extends to those caught in the crossfire, such as Angelo, himself a former soldier who's witnessed the deaths of his family and his village.

Where the film falls flat is in its dialogue and characterization. Films like Recon usually show a team coming together amid their differences to accomplish a goal. Here, however, the group seems to be at one another's throats for most of their mission, which quickly gets grating. They do eventually put their petty fights on the backburner, but only when someone is near death. While these moments do show us that these men can work as a team, moments of teamwork that aren't catalyzed by mortal danger are rare. The dialogue also doesn't support viewers liking most of these characters -- amid all the cursing and insults, it's hard to truly get to know these characters and their motivations, which makes the viewing experience feel lacking. Despite this, Recon does leave a lasting impression of why war can be seen as an unhealthy practice for humanity and our collective psyche.