The Men Who Stare at Goats

Name: The Men Who Stare at Goats
Genre: Comedy, War
Released: November 6, 2009
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey

2009

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 197 Ratings

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 197 Ratings

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The Men Who Stare At Goats

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Movie Details & Credits

Overture Films | Release Date: November 6, 2009 | R

Starring: Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey

Summary: Reporter Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady, a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, passReporter Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady, a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program's founder, Bill Django, has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him. (Overture Films)

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Director: Grant Heslov

Genre(s): Comedy, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 94 min

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Critic Reviews

Derek Elley

A superbly written loony-tunes satire, played by a tony cast at the top of its game. Read full review

Peter Travers

The go-for-broke performances help make all this paranormal activity too much fun to care. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The film is more than a little odd but it has fun with its offbeat premise and moves along breezily until it gets bogged down in the third act. Read full review

Claudia Puig

This is the anti-"Hurt Locker" experience: Where that Iraq War film was absorbing and deadly serious, The Men Who Stare at Goats is irreverent and lighthearted. One only wishes it were a more consistently funny film. Read full review

Peter Rainer

By bringing the story into Iraq, Grant Heslov courts tastelessness. Gooniness and Gitmo don't mix. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

What's impressive about Clooney in The Men Who Stare at Goats is how he marries his goofy, comic side with his dramatic side. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

A magical-realist sitcom war farce that ends up being about nothing but its own slovenly smugness. Read full review

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User Reviews

RonM

Nov 14, 2009

This was a great film. You WILL laugh.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

VanessaR

Nov 6, 2009

What a fun and wacky ride! The cast was exceptional. If you have a good sense of humor and appreciate the absurd, you should enjoy this movie as much as we did.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

bfoore90

Apr 30, 2020

A quirky and funny satire with a great cast full of actors really giving it their all.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RobertHoward

May 14, 2022

The Men Who Stare at Goats has a great cast, but the mixture of sheer absurdity and narrative incoherence make it a less memorable satire about the army.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

billanschell

Feb 11, 2011

The cast and premise are great, but the scriptwriting falls flat. It should have been much funnier, but it was well acted and had some good moments. You can't help feeling that the talent was largely wated.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JamieB

Mar 28, 2010

A complete waste of a stellar cast. At no point does the director come close to making a watchable movie. This is easily Ewan McGregor's worst performance of his career, and that takes into account the abortions that were the Star Wars prequels. Don't waste your time.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

JudyG

Nov 7, 2009

Did not get this movie at all. Totally boring! Waste of money and time.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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89	#89 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
92	#92 Most Shared Movie of 2009