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Act of Valor

Functions more like an ad for the Navy than an actual movie.
 
Act of Valor
our rating
½ Stars - Poor
Average Rating
 
(34 user ratings)ADD YOURSHelp
mpaa rating
R (for strong violence including some torture, and for language)
genre
Directed By
Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh
Run Time
1 hour 50 minutes
Cast
Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano, Rorke
Theatre Release
February 24, 2012 by Relativity Media

Act of Valor tries so hard to be authentic. From a cast made up of real Navy SEALs, to dialogue filled with military jargon, to a plot centered around the war on terror, the film wants us to believe that what we're seeing truly represents soldier life. In this desperate effort, though, it unfortunately does just the opposite. Focusing so closely on the validity of details, the filmmakers forget almost every valuable component of cinema—like, say, a story, which in the end makes it play more like an ad for the Navy than an actual movie.

Directed by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh and written by Kurt Johnstad, Act of Valor follows a squad of Navy SEALs as they go on a mission to rescue a CIA agent and stop a group of terrorists from bombing the U.S. In terms of a story, this plot is the extent of it. A voiceover briefly introduces the characters as they prepare to leave their families, but that's it. After ten minutes of contrived goodbyes and trite lines about men and war, the mission begins, and the action follows.

A SEAL on a mission

A SEAL on a mission

But the film never shows or tells us who these men are and what they think and feel. Are they afraid? Do they feel sympathy for the enemy? Do the killing and death affect them? Questions like these never emerge, but why would they when the film clearly imposes a pro-military, pro-war agenda, asking us to accept its subject as a mere noble and necessary part of life without moral and social implications.

In this, Act of Valor confirms itself to be a sort of military propaganda that depicts U.S. soldiers as pure, selfless, and righteous heroes whom American citizens dare not question or disrespect. Like most propaganda—if not all—the film hardly passes as art. But even if it had a genuine story and complex characters, a whole slew of other flaws would still make it substantially hackneyed.

Preparing for battle

Preparing for battle

These flaws become apparent in the opening sequence, in which the two main characters talk over beers at a local diner. The hokey scene, which presumably (but poorly) establishes their friendship, epitomizes two of the film's most prevalent shortcomings: cliched dialogue and horrendous acting.

In an effort to be more authentic, real Navy SEALs were cast as the leads—a decision proves dismal. When these macho men try to do drama with one another and their fictional spouses and families, it results in unintended laughter. They appear as if they are reading their lines as they go. The saddest part is that the film—so focused on its action and military facts—doesn't ask too much of them. But even then, they still fall short of the challenge, unable to even create characters whose names we remember.

The film often looks like a video game

The film often looks like a video game

The lines they're given don't help one bit. Johnstad's shoddy script includes cliché after cliché. The narrator, whose voice sounds as ridiculously deep as Christian Bale's Batman, delivers the most trite, unimaginative dialogue. His alleged nuggets of insight—like the opening quote of "When you get old, people stop thinking you're dangerous"—all prove banal.


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Comments

Displaying 1–3 of 23 comments

janet shrieves

June 18, 2012  9:50am

Your review of this movie simply proves that you just don't get it and what it takes to be a warrior. This is about a bond within a brotherhood that no one can really understand unless you are in it. So sorry for your ignorance.

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Joey Robinson

June 11, 2012  2:31am

Wow is all I can say.. I guess everyone is entitled to there opinion.. But first off Mike (Mouse) McCoy puts you into a place that shows just a tip of what happens out there.. The RPG seen is real and has happened more than few times ( thank god ).. And really just cause a movie doesn't look like all the others out there doesn't mean that is no good.. This movie is a tribute to The Seals and don't forget there ride the 160th SOAR..

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Geoff Matero

March 27, 2012  4:45pm

WOW! I can't believe this article was published. David as a fellow Christian I want to thank you for doing reviews for parents. With that said here's what I want to say about your article. This article you wrote is completely inaccurate and illinformed. As a screenwriter I can see that t have not done your homework. Before I see I movie I like to do as much research possible. I've heard talks by the screenwriter and directors. I'd like to point out that these so called "cliché" scenes you speak of are actual events that have taken place. The bombing of kids. The rocket in the chest actually happened. The writer spent time researching these events before writing them. The so called acting family memos were the actual family members. The only one who wasn't was Roarks wife, who took direction from the actual wife who said, "I'll make jokes about his hair. Keep myself calm and composed. When he leaves I close the door and collapse." My advice, do your research before sounding arrogant.

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