You would be forgiven for expecting a lot of sharp comedy from Grant Heslov’s The Men Who Stare at Goats. The plot contains an interesting mix of elements that should act as seeds for engaging, thematic humour. Unfortunately, the film restricts itself to a few moments of hilarity, leaving the rest of the story to become ‘quirky’ and rather average. It is by no means bad, of course, but rather a case of what ‘could have been’ that becomes the disappointment in the end.
Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) thinks he is part of a psychic division of the United States Army, a group of soldiers that use the supernatural power of the mind, while advocating free love and flower power. Peace, love and the paranormal, in the army? Most people wouldn’t suspend their disbelief over such an idea, most people except Bob Wilton (Ewen McGregor).
After his wife humorously dumps him for a one-armed man, Bob Wilton’s pathetic situation leads him to seek a new adventure in life. Wilton, a journalist, travels to the Kuwait border to begin writing on the current Iraq war. Instead, he meets Lyn Cassady and is soon taught about the paranormal activities of the Army’s wartime past.
Wilton desperately believes Cassady’s ludicrous story and the film follows the pair as they embark on a quest to locate Bill Django (Jeff Bridges), the original commander of this unbelievable group of soldiers. The adventure is also mixed with sequences detailing the creation of the psychic division (known as the “New Earth Army”) and Django’s involvement. Overall, this works well to maintain variety, but the scenes with Clooney and McGregor are significantly more entertaining and leave you wanting less back story.
The Men Who Stare at Goats builds up well, but falls short during the final act. There are several moments in the film where the audience is left to question the validity of Lyn Cassady’s psychic power. Scenes where significant psychic abilities are shown, such as the scene where Cassady kills a goat purely by staring at it (the film’s namesake scene), are flashbacks and therefore never entirely believable. These moments build up our expectations of discovering whether the New Earth Army is truly paranormal, or a complete sham – either outcome would be rewarding. Unfortunately this ends in disappointment, as the film doesn’t submit itself to either during the climax. This may be because the story is supposedly based on true events, but guessing which parts of the film are embellished (for comic/artistic license) and which are factual isn’t nearly as enjoyable as receiving a definitive answer. Leaving the audience uncertain can be disappointing for fiction; it sometimes works – but not here. A documentary on the true story would have been more acceptable and engaging, regarding this.
If you can overcome the disappointing climax (which also relishes in silliness instead of sharp humour) you can enjoy The Men Who Stare at Goats as a decent comedy. George Clooney exudes confidence as Cassady, who exasperates Ewan McGregor’s character frequently with his unquestionable reliance on psychic ability. Their dynamic is quite enjoyable to watch and the humour is varied and unpredictable. There is a sense of uncontrollable adventure following these two characters, who find themselves in some deliciously hairy situations. One scene in particular satirises the role of private contractors in war perfectly. If only more of this unpredictable, intelligent and topical comedy had pervaded the other half of the quirky storyline.
Unfortunately the scenes depicting Bill Django’s involvement in the New Earth Army aren’t nearly as good. Watching a group of United States soldiers become hippies, take drugs and dance feels like a cheap shot at humour. Even Kevin Spacey’s presence as the dubious psychic Larry Hooper feels weak and single layered. Luckily it isn’t all about these characters.
There are some great moments in The Men Who Stare at Goats and those who are looking to be distracted with some light entertainment will find it worth the price of admission. However, the potential for comedy, in what reads as an incredible synopsis, falls short. Themes of superstition and cults mixed with war and politics are not comically explored as they could have been. It’s a letdown in this respect, but I admit that relies heavily on expectations. Don’t expect anything too multi-faceted and you should have a fairly enjoyable 90 minutes at the cinema.
