Instead of outrage or any sense of shock and surprise, all the film has on offer is mild entertainment. Given the company, that feels like a bit of a miss.
War Dogs never preaches, but it reminds us of the rampant absurdity that became the new normal during the Bush-Cheney years, especially within the military-industrial complex.
If trying to straddle the chasm caused by the clash of a serious subject and a levity-filled, entertainment-oriented approach remains ill-fitting, so too do the key performances.
"War Dogs" starts off longing to shock us with its incredible tale. It ends up presenting its story so generically that it loses the quirky irregularities of real life. We can't be outraged because we're never really challenged.
If you're in the mood for something like Scarface but with some seriously hilarious moments that break up the drama and the tension, this is the perfect movie to find.
The characters have no memories, no identities, no range of interests, no personal connections, no idiosyncrasies beyond the dictates of the plot and the numbingly clear point that the filmmakers use it to make.
At best, War Dogs is a missed creative opportunity; at worst, it's a quasi-celebration of two vile schemers, one that ignores the brutality of the world they capitalized on.
