War Machine is the newest Netflix film aiming for a celebration of tough American heroes kicking butt. The plot follows a familiar formula: an extraterrestrial arrives on Earth, hardened soldiers are deployed, violence erupts, the resilient hero outsmarts the alien, and America prevails. Comparisons to Predator have surfaced, not just due to the similar storyline but also because Alan Ritchson, who embodies the modern Arnold Schwarzenegger archetype, leads the cast. You might recognize this imposing figure from Reacher on Amazon Prime or The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare alongside Henry Cavill. Ritchson portrays engineer/soldier 81, identified only by a number rather than a name—a deliberate choice to avoid distracting viewers from his seemingly endless capacity for pain and determination. The narrative introduces 81’s brother, played by Jai Courtney, whom we'll refer to as Bro. Both served in Afghanistan; Bro was ambitious and eager to become an Army Ranger alongside 81, who felt burdened by his own toughness. When Bro’s vehicle broke down, 81 was dispatched from the 101st Rudimentary Foreshadowing Brigade to instruct him on the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics and resolve a radiator issue. Subsequently, they were attacked. Both men sustained injuries; 81 dislodged a large piece of metal from his knee, grasped his brother's hand, and attempted to return to base—an effort that ultimately failed. Bro perished, 81 suffered a knee injury, setting the stage for an abundance of grit. Haunted by failing to save his brother, 81 enrolls in Ranger tryouts despite being significantly overage, injured, and sporting facial hair – a sight that would likely shock Pete Hegseth. After several less experienced recruits are eliminated, the commander, portrayed by a visibly exasperated Dennis Quaid, doubts 81’s ability to complete the training and earn his Ranger badge, deeming him too tough, sensitive, introspective, and even dreamy. Instead of dismissing 81, they assign him to a remote forest with a group of underdogs to prove his toughness. Eventually, after all this buildup, the alien appears, and the action truly begins. However, the central problem with this movie lies in its excessive focus on extraneous details: who cares about Bro, the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, Ranger school, or finish lines? The desire was to witness explosions, not delve into emotions and grit. War Machine’s prolonged introduction feels unnecessary and clumsy. Predator manages to convey what War Machine struggles with for half an hour—and does it far better, accompanied by a memorable theme from Alan Silvestri. The scene unfolds: Arnold appears, exchanges greetings with Dillon, and the action commences! That's all that's needed. Arnold is tough, Dillon faces a dangerous mission, let’s move on; there’s no time for emotional displays. Predator doesn’t waste any time being anything other than what it is—a straightforward action movie featuring thinly developed characters (some of whom are bizarre sexual hybrids). The result is an immensely satisfying film filled with memorable one-liners. War Machine would be better off sticking to its core concept. A profound exploration of the human condition isn’t what audiences want from a film like this. Instead, we crave non-stop alien destruction interspersed with corny jokes and subtle hints of homosexuality. Thankfully, once the alien appears in War Machine, the movie improves. The attacks are relentless, exciting, and brutal. The robotic alien quickly accumulates an impressive body count. It’s quite formidable, though not as imposing as 81, who is intelligent and possesses a seemingly boundless supply of grit. Remember that thermodynamics lesson with Bro? That's how you defeat an indestructible robot from another planet—by overloading it with rocks. Boom. To truly enjoy this movie, one must completely suppress any critical thinking. If you focus solely on the spectacle, the film becomes passable and entertaining. However, any contemplation of the movie will only lead to disappointment. Beyond the cumbersome introduction, the supporting cast is largely forgettable. They are generic “military guys” and a lone bald woman (mildly tough until she isn’t), seemingly plucked straight from central casting. Even Jai Courtney's role felt lifeless, mirroring his character's fate. Dennis Quaid delivers a perfunctory performance as a gruff commander nearing mandatory retirement. Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of War Machine is the ending—and I’ll reveal it for your own benefit. After defeating the seemingly invincible alien machine, 81 returns to base and receives a triumphant promotion to Ranger. There's saluting, back-slapping, and enthusiastic displays of American flags. Wonderful! Then, he’s sent back into combat. Congratulations, 81; your reward for survival is to return and face death once again. No respite. No shower. No tater tots. Get to the chopper and fight the unstoppable killing machine—again. 81's ending aims to evoke a sense of exhilaration and grit but instead feels profoundly depressing. Aww. If you can switch off your brain, you might find something to like in War Machine. I did appreciate the battle scenes with the alien. However, the movie tries too hard to be more than it is; it aspires for greatness but ultimately goes nowhere.

Source on TMDB