Nicolas Cage plays Gary Faulkner, a man tasked by God to travel to Pakistan to find the elusive terrorist leader, bin Laden.
Once again, crazy Cage is back. But if we’re all being honest we never truly thought he left. If it’s possible, Army finds the world’s richest B-movie actor playing it nuttier than his mad-eyed turn on Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. And if we’re really being honest, I found his portrayal of Faulkner to be extremely fucking annoying. Not only does he strangely resemble a much bloated version of Brent Spiner’s scientist from the Independence Day movies, but he also manages, all too easily to, not outshine, but to obnoxiously drown out every single one of his screen partners. These include the reliably hilarious Wendi McLendon-Covery, bar one excellent line.
The movie itself…can feel a little long. There’s nothing wrong with Faulkner not making it to Pakistan until halfway through the movie. Theoretically, there’d be nothing terrible about the film not arriving in Pakistan until the final act. But the fact that you have to put up with Faulkner until the extraordinary situations he gets himself into balance out his eccentric character, and things actually start to become funny, it can be a little trying.
Denis O’Hare and Rainn Wilson work great together. Their conversations are hilarious. What the fuck Russell Brand is doing in this movie, I don’t know. Even playing God he’s just hopeless because it’s just Russell Brand in a toga, or whatever the fuck he’s wearing. Same hair, same accent, same everything, like a really bad cameo that won’t stop recurring.
LAST WORDS:
For those of you who are most likely more familiar with director Larry Charles’ work helming Sacha Baren Cohen movies, Army may be a welcome escape from the asylum. As usual, Cage’s performance will either liven up or kill a movie dead. Make your own decision on that one, but I say, reel it in, Cage. Reel it in.