Based on smug Guardian journalist Jon Ronson's 2004 book charting the U.S. Army's exploration of New Age conceptions and paranormal weaponry, McGregor plays smalltown journalist Bob Wilton, determined to prove to the young wife who has left him for his editor that he's a man of action. And so he heads to Iraq. Where he finds himself hooking up with Lyn Cassidy (Clooney), once the shining star of the U.S. Army's First Earth Battalion. Which believed the mind was the most powerful weapon when it came to combat. Lyn reckons Bob is a Jedi. Which is really funny. Because McGregor was a Jedi in those really, really bad Star Wars prequels. And he was really bad in them too. Mad.
THE VERDICT: Comedic actor-turned-director Grant Heslov seems to be aiming for Coen brothers territory here, but lands instead in no man's land. What we end up with is something akin to National Lampoon's Syriana.
Of course, any movie that lets Ewan McGregor not only take the lead but unleash his American accent too is looking for trouble. Heck, they even let him narrate. Haven't these people seen Big Fish?
Jeff Bridges has a little fun with his own New Age persona as the guru who leads this band of would-be hippy hitmen, but not even the Dude can lift this increasingly desperate series of wacky sketches. To make matters worse, fallen Oscar winner Kevin Spacey once again plays the smartest, smarmiest man in the room. Nice to see the Old Vic superstar saviour pushing his range.
RATING: 2/5
Words - Paul Byrne