Once Upon a Twilight!: Movie Review: Paramount's Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Writers: Robert Carlock, Kim Barker
Starring: Margot Robbie, Nicholas Braun, Tina Fey
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for some suggestive material
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Hashtag: #WTFTheMovie

When reporter Kim Barker’s (Tina Fey) life needs something more, she decides to 'shake it all up’ by taking an assignment in a war zone. There, in the midst of chaos, she finds the strength she never knew she had. Sometimes it takes saying ‘WTF’ to find the life you were always destined to have. Also starring Margo Robbie, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina and Billy Bob Thornton, the film is directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (“Crazy, Stupid, Love”) from a screenplay by Robert Carlock (“Saturday Night Live,” “30 Rock”).

Even though I had seen the trailer for this movie, I didn't really know what to expect. To be completely honest, I thought it was just another incredibly funny movie with the very talented and loved Tina Fey. Yet, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

The movie follows Kim Barker as she goes from being a little undecided and naive (in my opinion) to being the determined and confident woman she later becomes. Knowing this was based on a true story, I commend the real life Kim for having taken the assignment to cover the war in Afghanistan back in 2003 (she's a reporter). She left the comfort and security we have in this country (and sometimes take for granted), her apartment in NYC, and her boyfriend to go to a country where women are looked down upon, she doesn't speak the language, and just the security isn't obviously the best given the fact that it was in the middle of the war. She initially was to go there for 3 months, but 3 months became 3 years.

I really don't want to give too much of the movie away, but I do want to tell you some key points: First of all, I thought it was brilliantly done! The serious moments were truly serious and impacting, the funny moments came in the most perfect time, the acting was really superb..but maybe I am a bit biased since I love pretty much every actor in this movie (Tina Fey, of course, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, Billy Bob Thornton; and I got to meet the very handsome Christopher Abbot, and saw more and better acting from Margot Robbie). The actors really got to depict these characters in a way so naturally, that it is easy to identify with them and with what they are going through or even doing. Secondly, I really love these stories of people who fight to make an impact even if it is in one life, for I firmly believe that even the smallest gesture can change someone's world. In this movie, Kim Barker learns to grow and does things I am sure the old Kim would've never thought she could! And my third and last point is that I walked out of the movie even more pumped than I already was to make some changes in my life, do things for me to grow -and that it is never too late to do so.

I will recommend this movie, even though I know some people won't like it because it's not just pure comedy, or just pure drama. It's one of those movies that makes you think, and analyze, and (hopefully) see things in a different way. I would totally see it again!