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Parents' Guide to

The Men Who Stare at Goats

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Loopy war comedy's offbeat humor may appeal to teens.

Movie R 2009 93 minutes
The Men Who Stare at Goats Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Sunteriors
Sunteriors Parent
September 8, 2017
age 17+

stupid waste of time

This has been on my movie list for some time, based on good reviews and recommendations. My husband liked it. I think it was a stupid waste of a few good hours. It wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen, but I would not recommend it.

This title has:

Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
2Simple
2Simple Adult
October 30, 2010
age 15+

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 9 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (9 ):
Kids say (4 ):

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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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