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November 11, 2009

'Goats' fun but story strays

By STEVE OUELLETTE, Movie Review

Typically, one would think a film couldn't go wrong with a plot that involves George Clooney using Jedi mind tricks to kill livestock.

Surprisingly, however, that's not entirely true.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats" is at times a wonderfully goofy, darkly humorous and entertaining farce about the extremes the military will go to for an edge on the battlefield.

Based in part on some completely nutso, and true, army initiatives, the film features George Clooney in good comedic form as Lyn Cassady, a "psychic soldier" from the Vietnam era who is unearthed by Ewan McGregor's Bob Wilton, a stressed-out reporter trying to prove his masculinity by covering the war in Iraq.

Wilton doesn't know if Cassady is crazy or not, but his story, complete with (LSD) flashbacks, is a compelling one, and he decides to follow it.

Jeff Bridges, in the next logical step from The Dude of "Big Lebowski" fame, plays Bill Django, the officer in charge of the original First Earth Battalion, a force of hippie soldiers trained to use pass-through walls and cloud men's minds.

Kevin Spacey is also around, though under-utilized as a jealous, no-talent fraud who hastens the disbanding of the secret force.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats" has many good laughs, but it doesn't have much of a story line and it drifts badly. The parts that string together the funny scenes aren't particularly good, and McGregor seems to be in the movie only because it's ironic to have Obi-Wan Kenobi confront someone who calls himself a modern Jedi Knight. That's good for a chuckle at first, but the character is otherwise forgettable.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats" is one of those movies that's disappointing because it fails to meet expectations — but it's still entertaining. Clooney and Bridges are a great deal of fun, and it's also interesting to look up the facts afterward and find out what's real and what's made up. I won't give it away.

Rental Recommendation: Director Grant Heslov previously worked with George Clooney (as a co-writer/producer) on "Good Night and Good Luck." Grade: A-

E-mail Steve Ouellette at: ouellette1918@gmail.com

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