J-Bang Reviews Present: War Dogs

"War Dogs" or what I like to call "Diet Wolf of Wallstreet" stars Miles Teller as David Parkouz and Jonah Hill as Efraim Diveroli, two arms dealers hired by the United States government to supply the U. S. army with guns and ammunition. Of course, when a bad deal is made, sh*t spirals out of control and so begins the downfall of the two friends. I watched this movie from start to finish, and honestly, I will say...it wasn't "bad," but it didn't "THRILL" me it either. I'll explain more.

The movie is complimented by strong performances from the small cast, but the one that stood out the most for me is Jonah Hill's Efraim Diveroli. Although, Jonah Hill evidently is the comic relief of the film, Hill also serves as the ambitious hustler that ends up being corrupted most by the money made off the war profiteering. Hill showcases both the light and dark side of his character through his efficient acting, and "War Dogs" is better for it. Miles Teller is cool too...it's just Hill was that much better.

The problem I do have with this movie however is the pacing. The tone is more serious and dramatic than it is comedic, and throughout the runtime, there were moments where I even found myself bored. It wasn't until Bradley Cooper's Henry Girard enters the fray where I found myself intrigue in the story line again, which gets a little better once a clear conflict has been introduced.

"War Dogs" is mostly a character driven story that showcases the rise and fall of two very ambitious arms dealers, but as their journey is showcased to us, the tale ultimately feels shallow rather than inspiring. The story is interesting for those who are into "biopic-like crime dramas" but for me, it's pretty forgettable. In other words, it wasn't bad, it was just...sort of... "okay." "War Dogs" gets a score of 3.2 out of 5.