War Dogs (Cinema Review)

Starring: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller
Directed By: Todd Phillips
Running Time: 114 Minutes
UK Release Date: 26th August 2016
BBFC Certificate: 15

Don’t let the marketing slogan ‘from the director of the Hangover trilogy’ put you off this film. Although it is very funny throughout, it’s a different breed altogether as director / co-writer Todd Phillips has created a tight, engrossing and entertaining film that is more in the vein of a gangster movie or The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).

War Dogs tells the story of David Packouz (Miles Teller), a 22-year-old drop out who massages elderly rich people to pay the rent. He gets reacquainted with his old childhood friend Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill) who makes his money supplying weapons for US government contracts, via an online marketplace set up by the Pentagon. Miles is taken under his wing and we see the rise of their business empire. They win a $300 million contract to arm US allies in Afghanistan in 2007, but face a few troublesome business trips abroad and the inevitable turbulence as their friendship is put to the test.

The film is based on a true story and took its inspiration from a Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson, which is definitely worth a read after seeing this film. I still find it unbelievable that the US government opened the doors to pretty much everyone to fulfil their weapons contracts, leading to a modern day equivalent of the gold rush.

Now we could go down the well-trodden route of how films based on a true story take liberties with their source material, but with this film I put that all behind me and enjoyed the overall experience, and I think you should too.

The film is episodic in structure and has foreshadowing Frasier-esque titles introducing each chapter, opening with a narrated montage educating the audience about the war economy. This explains that wars are only waged so that one side will make a profit, and ‘if anyone tells you otherwise then they’re in on it or just plain stupid’.

As an idea it isn’t new to me; but I always thought the weapons contracts went out to big manufacturers and that 2 stoners in their 20’s wouldn’t be able to get a piece of the pie. But as this film says, you’ve got to look at the crumbs. It’s an interesting and entertaining look at the industry, although I have read that Guy Lawson expected a documentary when he sold the rights and not a comedy.

Thankfully though, this film is more than another forgettable American comedy and I found the business side of things fascinating. It features fast paced montages explaining all of the intricacies throughout and as immoral as it may seem, I was rooting for the two leads throughout.

It’s a great satirical look at greed, capitalism and excess that any fan of The Wolf of Wall Street or gangster films will appreciate, but the business they are in is completely legal. It’s just when greed takes over things go south. Some moments are predictable but the film goes along at a good pace and there are plenty of laughs and dramatic beats along the way, none of which feel out of place or forced upon us. It also has one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a while and each song accompanies its corresponding scenes perfectly.

We get solid performances from the two leads and there is believable chemistry between them as ‘brothers in arms’. David’s motivation isn’t played too sentimentally as Teller pulls off the character seamlessly, and Hill’s performance is comparable to his role in Wolf of Wall Street, but more channelling Jordan Belfort as he plays everyone to get what he wants. However they both carry this film and I would like to see them paired together in another film down the line.

We don’t get many other central characters but Bradley Cooper (who co-produced this film) makes an appearance, although I couldn’t take him seriously as he looks like Bono from U2.

Director Todd Phillips has managed to both play it safe with the comedy elements as well as expanding into more solid and dramatic territory with this film and I am keen to see what he does next, as long as it’s not another Hangover film.

We have solid performances and a great storyline combined with the glamor of nightclubs, beautiful people, drink, drugs, and lots of laughs along the way even when the film is at its darkest. We get a glimpse of just how much money can be made from selling weapons, and how money can blind us from all from the misery war causes. Diveroli sums it up perfectly early on in the film by saying he’s ‘not pro war, but is pro money’.

Overall Verdict: It’s a film of great calibre and an edgy comedy that you probably weren’t expecting. A hilarious cautionary tale about the dangers of greed, with great performances and is worth your time.

Reviewer: George Elcombe