The War In Afghanistan..."Whiskey Tango Foxtrot "

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)

Rated R

Starring Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, Christopher Abbott, Billy Bob Thornton, Nicholas Braun, Evan Jonigkeit

Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

The Story:

In 2003, the war in Iraq has pulled all of the world's major journalists there to cover the story. Turning to whatever resources they have left, new reporters are sent to Afghanistan to cover that story. Kim Baker (Fey) is selected and heads to Afghanistan even though she's never worked in front of the camera before. However, her inquisitive nature and determination help her immensely as she befriends her colleagues, the military and the Afghan locals.

Yes, this is a true story.

And while there are many amusing things that happen, this falls more along the dramedy realm than a straight up zany Tina Fey movie.

So make sure you know that going in, or you too may think..."Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?!"
Or some equivalent.
:)

Had Tina Fey written it, it's likely it would have been even funnier, but sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction, and there is plenty of that to go around in the film.

She's surrounded with some wonderful supporting characters, especially Christopher Abbott as her interpreter and Billy Bob Thornton as General Hollanek.

Along the way, Kim uncovers the cold truth about the war: while Americans love and support the military, they just don't want to see it, or the harsh realities of war played out on the television nightly.

That was true then in 2006, when everyone was tired of it.

A decade later, it's sadly even more true.

Final Grade: B

Who Are These Guys? "The Impostors"

The Impostors (1998)

Rated R for language

Starring Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, Alfred Molina, Tony Shalhoub

Written & Directed by Stanley Tucci

The Story:

Maurice (Platt) and Arthur (Tucci) are two out-of-work actors who offend an actor (Molina) and wind up as stowaways on a cruise ship.  However, as they attempt to remain out of sight from the authorities, there are other nefarious plans afoot on the ship.  Nobody is to be trusted on this ship filled with Impostors!

This is an obvious homage to the days of Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers.

Tucci and Platt make a wonderfully adept comic team who work well off one another trading straight man/comedian roles throughout the film as the situations change.

The each keep stumbling into various plots of death and sabotage as they try and stay hidden from the authorities.

Naturally, all of the storylines and cases of mistaken identity will collide in the final act.

The movie is a bit uneven, with various degrees of amusement and hilarity and stretches where it isn't as funny.


Final Grade: C.. maybe C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It was a fine one-time viewing, I would have little need to watch it again.