Review - Act of Valor

ACTion Packed But Lacking in Delivery

The story of NAVY seals has been told many times before, but never quite this way. This unit is real, real Seals instead of actors – and that is the selling point.

In theaters 2/24

Off on a mission that takes them around the world, this group of Seals and the film Act of Valor will take you behind the scenes of what it’s like to leave your family behind and fight for the very things you believe in.

That’s the hook here, the reality of it all. The directors even introduce the film with the announcement that they didn’t think that actors could deliver the emotional impact that the film needed. They couldn’t deliver the action that they were looking to relate to the audience. And they couldn’t deliver the passion of the profession.

Based on some actual stories the mission takes them around the world and back fighting all sorts of evil, and working to get back home to their families.

Yes, I’m struggling as I write about Act of Valor and the storyline. Yes I’m struggling with many aspects of discussing this film.

First let me say – I loved the action sequences. The directors mentioned in the pre film segment that there was live ammo used at times and it felt real both in sound and look. I felt like we were really following the Seals on their mission.

But the flipside is the film had a less than stellar script and without actors the script didn’t help matters. There was clunky dialogue all over the place, almost as clunky as this review.

So the movie that I wanted to like, turned into some action I did like and some dialogue I really didn’t like. Act of Valor could have used more actors, or at least acting coaches.

If I gave out effort grades, they would get an A for the methods…but unfortunately that isn’t the way this works.  So for the whole of the movie, it is just average. (But of course I will watch it again…I am an action junkie as you would expect from The Common Guy.)

C+

Act of Valor

Director: Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh

Starring: Real NAVY Seals

Relativity Media

Rating: R for strong violence including some torture and language.

Runtime: 1 hour 51 minutes