Rank: 4/5
“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” is an attempt at a serious war movie which maintains its comedic repertoire, and while it may not have been successful, it’s an entertaining film viewers will enjoy.
The film is based on the true story of former Chicago Tribute reporter Kim Barker’s memoir, “The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
Comedic mastermind Tina Fey plays Kim Baker, a 40-something New Yorker who works in broadcast news writing web copy. Dissatisfied with her unmarried, childless position in life, she decides to embark on a three-month assignment as a foreign correspondent, reporting on the war in Afghanistan circa 2004.
Although the movie received overwhelmingly mediocre reviews, at its core, it’s an engaging film. Prior to viewing it, I had low expectations but was pleasantly surprised. Fey played an effective lead role in the drama, something unusual for the rom-com favored gal.
The basic plot of the middle-aged American woman “finding herself” in a foreign country feels very “Eat, Pray, Love” inspired. The character development is predictable, but seeing Fey’s progression from a naive, unconfident foreigner, to an experienced, fluent local made the movie pleasing for the viewer.
One noticeable complaint is no background is given on Fey’s character other than the barebone narrative, so it reduces her to that stereotypical storyline.
“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” is similar to 2012’s “Zero Dark Thirty,” but lacks the intensity necessary to make it a truly great war movie. That, and its overlapping of genres: it had a mixing of action, rom-com and discovery of self, so it lacks a definitive identity.
While overseas, Fey befriends Margot Robbie’s character, Tanya Vanderpoel, who is a news anchor who is already stationed there.
Robbie introduces her to the world of western journalism in the Middle East, dubbed the “Kabubble,” where reporters are addicted to their adapted way of life, which includes excess partying and acting as self-depicted “adrenaline junkies.”
When their viewers’ declining interest leads to network dissatisfaction, the journalists go to reckless lengths to show new material that puts them in active, dangerous situations.
Fey also becomes aware through Robbie that she is considered much more desirable overseas, due to the shortage of available women in Afghanistan. She begins a relationship with a dreamy, Irish Iain MacKelpie, played by Martin Freeman.
Fey finds herself attracted to their off-key, exhilarating way of living, and extends her interim trip to a three year expedition. Eventually, Fey pulls herself out of the disorderly high and low behavior of the region, saying “You do realize that this is not normal, right?”
Other notable characters include Fahim Ahmadzai, Fey’s “fixer,” a translator and guide in Afghanistan who becomes her closest friend. General Hollanek is played by Billy Bob Thornton, and offers stern but funny insight. Ali Massoud Sadiq, a high government official of Afghanistan, is played by Alfred Molina. Molina’s role becomes absurdly funny for the stature of this character.
Another character whose impact on Fey isn’t realized until much later in the movie is Specialist Coughlin of the U.S. Marines. He was one of Fey’s first interviews for TV, and told her that the war in Afghanistan was a “Forgotton War; capital F, capital W.” Later, he was transferred and lost his legs due to a bombing.
Fey maintains her trademark humor and comedic style, while preserving the integrity of her character. She is self-mocking, but not self-deprecating.
The film’s dialogue discusses issues like sexism, terrorism, and the “Forgotten War” in Afghanistan.
While critics complain that the film is inconsistent, incoherent and doesn’t drive the message home, it’s easy to find the film’s takeaway clear when Coughlin tells Fey at the end: “Embrace the suck and move the f*** forward. What other choice do we have?”