Act of Valor

Presumably there are some good intentions behind Act of Valor, which makes it a touch easier to forgive its obvious flaws.

The concept certainly is bizarre, having real-life Navy SEALS star in a fictional action thriller about drug smugglers and international terrorism. You get to salute the troops and watch them kick some tail all at the same time.

While that might sound good on paper, it also leads to a couple of fundamental issues. These guys are convincing enough when they’re within their element, but woefully lack the acting chops when it comes to quieter, character-driven moments away from the action. Plus, the outcome is never in doubt because, well, there’s no chance they won’t succeed in fulfilling every mission.

The story, which apparently is based on true accounts, follows the highly trained Bandito Platoon as it leaves their families for a mission that involves rescuing a CIA agent (Roselyn Sanchez) who has been kidnapped by a drug kingpin in Costa Rica. It turns out that crime is linked to another involving a Chechen terrorist (Jason Cottle) with operations in Somalia and Mexico who has plans to launch an attack on the United States, leading to an international manhunt.

The soldiers (each of which is credited only by first name) do lend the intended authenticity to the material when they are communicating in their rapid-fire terminology or engaging in any variety of stunts, whether it be in the air, on the ground, or under water. Act of Valor has it all in that regard.

However, that is compromised by the calculated script from Kurt Johnstad (co-writer of 300), which comes off the assembly line of globetrotting thrillers with nondescript villains and a complete lack of subtlety.

First-time feature directors Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh essentially have crafted a high-concept, fast-paced recruitment video overflowing with patriotism and camaraderie, and containing a handful of taut combat sequences that don’t water down the violence.

It’s always worthwhile to shine the spotlight on our soldiers that put their lives on the line every single day, and the Navy SEALS are remarkable. Perhaps a documentary about their efforts would be a better tribute than a trumped-up Hollywood thriller that both cheapens the acting and unintentionally conveys the message that fantasy is better than reality.

Rated R, 109 minutes.