War Dogs (2016): Dir: Todd Phillips / Cast: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas, J.B. Blanc, Bradley Cooper: Tense action comedy about the lowest level of humanity. Jonah Hill plays a charming yet manipulative illegal arms dealer named Efraim Diveroli. Miles Teller plays a childhood friend named David Packouz whose past with Efraim landed him in trouble in the past. He is married and his wife is expecting their first child. He struggles in a business that sells bed sheets while dreading his job as a massage therapist. A chance encounter at a funeral reconnects the two and he is sucked into Efraim's dangerous world. Easily Todd Phillip's best film since The Hangover. Hill brings out the charisma of someone who does not care who he steps on to get rich. Teller as David sees opportunity until trust is broken and a trip to dangerous territory has him on his knees with a gun to his head. Ana de Armas plays David's frustrated wife who fears for their life and the safety of their child. She calls out David on his ongoing lies and his questionable loyalty to Efraim. Bradley Cooper plays a shady character named Henry Girard whom they deal with until merchandise turns up to be wrong and problematic. This is at times funny but often tension makes way for suspense as trouble closes in. Action scenes are fast paced with narrow escapes. Theme regards trust and those whom manipulate our lives into disaster. It also reveals the reality of cutting corners to prevail thus leading to severe consequences. The dogs bite savage in this chaotic and numbing action farce. Score: 10 / 10
Review of War Dogs
