Recreating his role as a hitman, John Cusack gives a hilarious performance in War, Inc., a political satire set in Turaqistan, a Country occupied by an American private corporation run by a former U.S. Vice President (Dan ... more »Aykroyd). In an effort to monopolize the opportunities the war-torn nation offers, the corporation's CEO hires Hauser (Cusack) to kill a Middle Eastern oil minister. Now, struggling with his own growing demons, the assassin must pose as the corporation s Trade Show Producer in order to pull off this latest hit, while maintaining his cover by organizing the high-profile wedding of Yonica Babyyeah (Hilary Duff), an outrageous Central Asian pop star, and keeping a sexy left-wing reporter (Marisa Tomei) in check.« less
Deidra C. (Deidra670) from GARRETT, KY Reviewed on 2/4/2011...
WAR, INC. is a blast!! I've been in love with John Cusack ever since BETTER OFF DEAD, "Gee Ricky, I'm sorry your mother blew up." And GROSSE POINT BLANK is one of my favorite movies. My copy has worn rings in it, I've watched it so much!
WAR, INC. is a sequel to GROSSE POINT BLANK and it's a dandy. Dan Aykroyd is back this time as the vice president sending Cusack on a mission to a middle east country. As always, nothing goes as planned, but what an amazing ride.
I know that some people didn't like this movie. To each, his own. Did it weigh down in parts? Yes. WAR,INC. could've benefited from some more creative editing, but still, WAR, INC. is a damn fine movie!!
So, suspend your disbelief, give your brain a rest and sit back and kill bad guys with John, Dan, Joan and Ben. You won't be disappointed!!
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Meredith H. (merbreezer) from WASHINGTON, DC Reviewed on 2/2/2010...
Good actors horrible movie. This was trying to be like Gross Pointe Blank, but fell way short. I actually didn't even finish the movie.
2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Tim D. (tim) from HUNTINGTON, MA Reviewed on 10/3/2009...
terrible movie i expected better from john cusack hes a much better actor
2 of 4 member(s) found this review helpful.
Jeff P. Reviewed on 5/22/2009...
This is the worst movie I have seen in years. I'd rather watch Freddy Gets Fingered. Oye, avoid this one!
2 of 6 member(s) found this review helpful.
Heather F. (8izenuff) from PHOENIX, AZ Reviewed on 12/27/2008...
Being a John Cusack fan, I had to see this. John tends to be doing some movies of this bent: HiFidelity, Never get out of the Boat, Buy the Ticket, take the ride, Floundering etc. I also know that as much as I love John's work every few years he does a stinker. This was like Wag the Dog, but not as funny. Then again,to some people it was hilarious. So you will love it or hate it. I found it worth watching just to see John and his sister Joan, but I regret buying it new. Does that help? Hillary Duff was the creepiest & scariest thing in this war zone movie. Oh and John really kicks butt and that was awesome, so worth watching but still not worth buying new.
7 of 7 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Comedy from today's headlines
wiredweird | Earth, or somewhere nearby | 06/20/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I almost skipped this one as a political annoyance until I saw the star power supporting it: Ben Kingsley, Marisa Tomei (a personal favorite), John Cusack, Joan Cusack, and more. That cast simply won't let a movie be bad. They couldn't if they tried.
Despite an apparent attempt to be ordinary entertainment, this one rises above all the usual categories. Do you want a cynical mockumentary of Haliburton-style war profiteering? Got it. Do you want pointed jabs at operations funded by Congress's "black budget?" Check. Do you want satirical assaults on simplistic sloganeering from every possible direction? It's there. Add in a babe like a pre-meltdown Britney but with hotter hotpants and a bucket of slapstick, and you're headed in the right direction. For example, a major character's name is "Uckmee Fay." Speakers of pig-Latin, please take note.
They set the tone from the very first scene. Chevy Chase delivers a "Mission Impossible" style of assignment to a high-class assassin, via video, while seated on American Standard's finest. Later, Joan Cusack shows up in the role that she has perfected - the prim, cheery, and murderous psychopath. There's a lot more, too. I laughed all through, even (maybe especially) when I knew that outrage would have been the "appropriate" response.
This one really grows on me the more I think about it. It doesn't whap you upside the head with humor, politics, or even its sappy moments. Instead, it tickles you with not-quite-too-much of social commentary, current events, goofy jokes, visual gags, and enough more to hold it all together. I liked it more a few hours later than when I walked out the door, and lots of movies have the opposite effect on me.
-- wiredweird, reviewing the theatrical release
PS: See it some time soon. The topical humor in this one might age badly unless the The Powers That Be keep providing background to preserve its freshness."
War Inc is a must see...
Kelly Rybarczyk | Texas USA | 08/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"War Inc has an all star cast that includes John Cusack as Hauser a troubled assassin who has accepted a job of bumping off the figure head of a rival nation. To do this he must pose as a trade show coordinator hosting a Tamerlane Brand USA Expo in recently "liberated" country Turaqistan. On top of all this and with the help of his assistant (Joan Cusack) he has to juggle a headstrong reporter (Marisa Tomei) and the impending wedding of pop superstar Yonika BabyYea (Hilary Duff). War Inc is a film that will entertain a number of different audiences. On the surface the film plays much like a guy with girl troubles film but its the underlying theme that really makes it shine. Writers Mark Leyner, Jeremy Pikser and John Cusack weave a story that draws many parallels between what is happening on screen and in America today. One could easily view these larger than life characters as allegorical representations of the American Public, Capitalism, Big Business, Government, The Media...and so on. There is of course a good bit of the absurd, including but not limited to: fighting, licking and hotsauce drinking. Overall this film is ahead of its time for its candid statements about the geo political climate and its fun enough that you can still eat popcorn too. I hope you enjoy!"
A very important movie
M. Miles | Minneapolis | 10/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've seen this when released and I would disagree with many of the reviewers who complain of the "disjointed" script. This movie is not confusing. It is extremely fast paced and can be watched several times to get all the jokes. The special effects are brutally effective and the underlying message very disturbing. The dark humor is right on, especially the bit where the Cusack's only friend is his Northstar roadside assistance system. The only complaint of the movie is how they fit Hillary Duff into the movie. It's a bit corny, but hey, it's Hollywood."
Classic Cusack!
Alix Carnes | Carrollton, GA USA | 09/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I came upon this movie by accident while I was visiting friends in Colorado (because, naturally, such a film won't be shown in ultra-conservative Georgia). I immediately fell in love with the dark humor and political satire as my favorite actor battled against his conscience, his bosses, and his hot sauce addiction. This movie is a fun watch for all, but particularly relevant to those of us who oppose the war. John Cusack hits it out of the park by finally saying what everyone's been too afraid to say. "War, Inc." is a MUST SEE!"
What a strange & smart little movie
The Mandrew | The Dub-V | 12/31/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I loved it. Take John Cusack, add 1 part Brazil and pour over Starship Troopers, and you've got a hilariously bizaare commentary on geopolitics and the industrial war machine.
Its dark, and I mean, almost navy. Its only downfall is its heaviness, and sometimes it and the metaphors are jammed down your throat a little too often, but the ensemble cast is actually phenomenal, with Ben Kingsley and even Hillary Duff doing a great job (I can't believe I typed that).
You will laugh, if you have a dark sense of humor and like smart comedy. This movie is very timely, with the rise of the military farming out their work to private security (who are portrayed to be the craziest of all the crazies in the movie). Its small wonder it tanked in the box office, but if you have a proclivity towards movies like Dr. Strangelove, you'll find this to be one of the better movies you watched this year."