One of the criticisms I've read and initially felt myself that this film tried too hard to be too many things. Was there comedy? Yeah. Mystery? Yup. Drama? A bit of that too. And when I finished watching it last night I was left wandering 'What have I just watched?' Quite frankly it's one of the better military comedies in the vain of 'M*A*S*H' and 'Buffalo Soldiers'. The film begins brightly and funnily with a soldier being unceremoniously dropped off (quite literally) in Greenland. With a case of frustrating mistaken identity Jason Biggs' Rudy Spruance must find his feet as the bases PIO, delivering news via 'The Harpoon' in a place where nothing happens.
Much like 'M*A*S*H' the army of 'Guy X' is filled with lovable goons that while away they hours with beer "No brew, no clue." and pursuing women, and Spruance is no exception chasing after the lovely Irene Teal. All seems destined for a happy romp beneath the eyes of an ignorant Colonel.
Then comes Guy X, played with subtle futility and anguish by a brilliant Michael Ironside, an un-named amputee secluded deep in the base. And this is where the change in tone comes. As the eternal sun makes may for permanent midnight in Greenland the comedy fades also. The comfortably absurd becomes hellish and violent and the futility and sadness of the soldiers existence becomes ever more apparent "We guard things, that's what we do!".
A sublime comedy that reveals that even what appears to be happily absurd can hide the darkest secret and people trapped in their own personal darkness (all the soldiers are at the base due to their own failings), despite their outward abandon and merriment.
Much like 'M*A*S*H' the army of 'Guy X' is filled with lovable goons that while away they hours with beer "No brew, no clue." and pursuing women, and Spruance is no exception chasing after the lovely Irene Teal. All seems destined for a happy romp beneath the eyes of an ignorant Colonel.
Then comes Guy X, played with subtle futility and anguish by a brilliant Michael Ironside, an un-named amputee secluded deep in the base. And this is where the change in tone comes. As the eternal sun makes may for permanent midnight in Greenland the comedy fades also. The comfortably absurd becomes hellish and violent and the futility and sadness of the soldiers existence becomes ever more apparent "We guard things, that's what we do!".
A sublime comedy that reveals that even what appears to be happily absurd can hide the darkest secret and people trapped in their own personal darkness (all the soldiers are at the base due to their own failings), despite their outward abandon and merriment.