Review: The Men Who Stare At Goats

I generally tend to enjoy the understated dry comedies and that is what I expected from The Men Who Stare At Goats. While it tries to be just that the story trudges along with reliance on flashbacks for much of the progression. Many of the situations seem inserted for the purpose of comic relief yet unfortunately they never really deliver on it.

The story revolves around the two main characters making a trek through Iraq with the aforementioned flashbacks explaining the origin of the new-age fighting techniques that are employed and how the characters had gotten to where they are now. George Clooney stars as Lyn Cassady who is thought of as the most powerful of the “psychic warriors”.  Ewan McGregor plays reporter Bob Wilton who latches onto him in hopes of a story and an adventure.

The new-age Army was put together by Bill Django (played by Jeff Bridges) who after years of research discovered how to cultivate and nurture what could best be called “super powers” in soldiers. This program was meant to produce a way to disable enemies without having to kill them. However with some different ideals is Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey) as one of the other recruits who sees the potential of using the “dark side” of the powers as an offensive military tactic.

While there are a few laughs along the way the movie drags along with little idea of what the point actually is. For a movie that is just 93 minutes it felt much longer than that. There is no discernible goal stated other than Cassady being on some sort of a mission. Bob is along for the ride and he actually comes across as the central focus of the film as he takes in the developments for his story while learning more about himself through the experiences.

The Men Who Stare At Goats isn’t a terrible movie but it also isn’t a very entertaining one. It seems like the actors enjoyed their time making it, I just wish it has actually been funnier along the way for the audience.

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