Richard Shepard's The Hunting Party is that wonderfully strange creature known as a political comedy, or more appropriately, a war comedy. It is incredibly funny, but also delves into the horrors of war. It does this without being preachy. It is a rare gift these days.
Richard Gere's Simon is wild, spontaneous, and just a little not there. It is not Gere's best part, ,but one of his best. Terrance Howard's Ducky owns the movie. It is his narrative that puts everything in perspective while showing just how absurd it really is. It should be an Oscar part for Howard. Jessie Eisenburg's Benjamin, the green cameraman, is over the top stereotypical until one scene that makes the ending of the film.
War films are tough. It is a fine line between Letters from Iwo Jima, and MASH. They can be too preachy like Saving Private Ryan and Blood Diamond. The Hunting Party finds it line in a space that The Last King of Scotland, and Stalag 17 drew out. It is the right mix of comedy, absurdy and characters that keep the audience balanced against bloodshed and horror. It is a fun film and worthy of seeing again and again.