I'd seen the previews, and had a positive inclination from those. There's also a pretty big awareness of this film out there, an anticipation.
The premise is promising, the people involved are credible and the crux of its "message" laudable.
All the ingredients for a compelling film, but it doesn't have any grip. Pretty flat taxiing on the runway, never really taking flight.
Amusing in parts, but hardly uproariously funny.
The editing is a disgrace, popping from scene to scene, theme to theme with scant regard for flow or resolution. Script is merely so-so.
Bill Murray is alright, it's the usual curmudgeonly victimized indignation from him. Does it well, no complaints.
Zooey Deschanel on screen long enough for recognition, but hardly credit worthy.
Then we have Bruce Willis, "bad ass" sarcastic man with a gun and pliable heart. Kate Hudson as a fallen angel, is much what you'd expect.
Danny McBride and Scott Caan in ex-pat dirt ball roles, almost irrelevant.
The real stars here are Arian Moayed, Fazim Fazli, Beejam Land and quite notably Leem Lubany who seem to inherit their (pretty stereotyped) roles with aplomb.
This is likely a big shot for their career aspirations, and they, above all, do deliver.
The story is OK, the message even a bit admirable. It's simply not very well done, from Barry Levinson, no less. There's a back story, methinks.
As I said upfront, pretty decent idea and then major C. V's got involved, it became too Hollywood.
Had an Afghan director taken this idea and made a "film" with local and lesser known actors... might have been really notable.
There is a problem with your e-mail address and we are unable to communicate with you. Please go to My Account to update your email.
Please choose a username to sign your comments. Only letters, digits, dash - or period. Minimum 4 characters.
Your age and sex:
We publish all comments, except abusive, at our discretion.