It’s a story of greed and obscene success, a common story line, but it’s also a war comedy — a genre Hollywood is finally tackling now that some of the dust has settled on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, here is a movie that approaches the war with humor as well as ruthless cynicism.
David Packouz is smoking weed and working as a massage therapist in Miami Beach, and his life is going nowhere fast. Then, unexpectedly, his high school buddy, Ephraim Divaroli, comes back to town, and Ephraim is loaded. When David learns his girlfriend is pregnant, Ephraim offers to hire him as his first partner. Ephraim then reveals his trade: selling weapons and ammunition to the U.S. government for the war in Iraq.
David quickly learns the lay of the land, and he helps Ephraim land their biggest deal yet. Unfortunately, their order ends up stranded in Jordan. David and Ephraim risk their lives to personally deliver the truckload of guns by driving under cover of darkness to Baghdad. After that, their reputation is secured, and they ultimately aim for a $300 million deal with the help of a shady arms dealer, played by Bradley Cooper. However, the two men soon find it hard to deliver on their promises. The unbelievable contract may prove to be their undoing.
The best part of this movie is, without a doubt, Jonah Hill, who plays Ephraim Divaroli. His slow, chilling, ridiculous laugh is unforgettable, as is his angel face on the body of a man who will crush anyone in his path. He steamrolls a way to wealth for himself, come what may. While David is the other half of this partnership, he is almost forgettable (and far more forgivable) next to the character of Ephraim Divaroli.
“This is a different dark side of war,” said moviegoer Elliott. “Not the dark side we already know, like PTSD in soldiers who come home. This is about the people who find loopholes in government spending and profit off of it without conscience or constraint. It’s horrifying and fascinating at the same time.”
For those who don’t mind strong language and some violence, and who appreciate the tongue-in-cheek approach to a war story, War Dogs is a look into our past and a window into the world of the bottom-feeders who profited off the war.
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Genre: Crime/Drama
Directors: Todd Phillips
Actors: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas, Bradley Cooper
Rating: R for sequences of violence and action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content and language
Running Time: 1 hour 54 minutes
