Rating of
2.5/4
On the Front-Lines
Unknown - wrote on 05/09/16
'Whiskey Tango Foxtrot' is a biographical piece based on one woman's on-site reporting from the beginnings of the Iraq war. This drama/comedy handles each of those facets in equal measure. The comedy comes from this woman's personality and the many relationships between all of the characters, while the drama never loses it's grasp on the realistic consequences of war. The balance is so strong that it will switch between the two sides in a single scene with ease, giving us more to be invested. I had some genuine good laughs and felt some emotional involvement. Tina Fey gives an engaging lead performance that might be her best yet. She even elevates everyone else around her. That is, except for the individuals that stick out from the rest. A few characters seem a bit forced in the way they push upon inaccurate stereotypes, or just exist for the sake of their archetypical need to advance the protagonist's personal growth. Alfred Molina feels almost like a cartoon amidst this real-world setting in his racially awkward portrayal. Fey and Freeman's romantic relationship, while entertaining, felt like an unnecessary addition that dragged the third act on a bit too long. No matter what, Fey kept the whole thing together and gave a satifying conclusion to her character's arc.
