FilmSnobReviews

Title: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Starring: Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman
Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins

What It Is: Bored with her pencil-pushing life as a news-writer. When her station is looking for more war zone reporters Kim Baker (Fey) jumps at the chance. Unlike most reporters going to Iraq and whatever is left of it, Kim is sent to Afghanistan. It is here where she navigates the unfamiliar territory of reporting from the frontlines. As she does she’ll run into fellow reporter Tanya Vanderpoel (Robbie) and war photographer Iain MacKelpie (Freeman). She’ll grow apart and together with her new surrounding and perhaps even learn a thing or two about herself.

What We Think: Very similar in many respects to Rock the Casbah being a fish out of water in a predominantly Muslim setting. This is where the comparisons end. Where the Murray vehicle had a lacking script and missed on a ton of the jokes this is much crisper. Fey is funny enough to bring this to an above average viewing experience. There’re some unique decisions being made by directors Ficarra and Requa, ones that lead to both nowhere and some place familiar. That is the one problem really facing this film. It has an identity crisis. Is it a comedy? A Drama perhaps? This is where the tone causes huge problems. It shifts from drama to comedy and back again. This is totally jarring and overall hurts the film.

Our Grade: C, Not bad but also just not good enough. This film gets a passing grade and a slight recommendation if you enjoy Tina Fey’s exploits on film. Essentially that’s me saying check it out if it interests you. This isn’t by any means a bad film, but it is also not something I’m chopping at the bit to see again. This is a movie that is very good and being mediocre.