IN THE LOOP

If you enjoy sharp political satire, IN THE LOOP offers plenty to savor. Its dialogue is often brilliant, and its mockery reaches in two directions: It attacks the American and British decision to go to war against Saddam Hussein in Iraq, while also ridiculing big government and the power-hungry bureaucrats who run it.

That wit comes at a steep cost. The film contains a nearly constant barrage of strong foul language, including many crude sexual insults. Its third act lacks the suspense and jeopardy needed to carry the satire to a satisfying finish, and the repetition eventually becomes tedious.

This is a clever, imperfect film for adults who can navigate its content and appreciate its political humor. For family viewing, choose something else. The practical answer: WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.

Simon Foster is a bumbling English government official who creates confusion after telling the press that war in the Middle East is “unforeseeable.” His prime minister’s foul-mouthed communications director orders him to follow the party line.

Simon’s further comments draw the attention of American officials divided between promoting war and promoting peace. Soon, English and American bureaucrats are using Simon and the growing crisis to advance their own agendas.

Three stars means IN THE LOOP is witty and worthwhile, but falls short of full artistic success. The dialogue is brilliant at times, and the film effectively mocks both political decision-making and the bureaucrats who wield power.

The weakness is the third act. Instead of building to a strong crescendo of suspense and jeopardy, the story loses steam. By the end, the script feels tedious and repetitive, leaving the film with a flat finish.

The film presents a light humanist worldview with some moral elements. Its central political message is a strongly politically correct attack on the American and British decision to go to war against Saddam Hussein in Iraq. The filmmakers clearly side with the modern-day pacifists in the story, although those characters are also shown as incompetent and venal.

At the same time, the satire mocks big government and its faceless, overly powerful bureaucrats. It warns viewers not to place too much power in the hands of government officials, a concern the source review connects with 1 Samuel 8. The film’s moral perspective is therefore mixed: It distrusts political power, but its preferred alternative is not presented as consistently wise or virtuous.

The movie’s central concern is what happens when people use authority to pursue personal or political agendas instead of truth. Scripture warns against misplaced trust in human rulers: “They have rejected me from being king over them” (1 Samuel 8:7).

IN THE LOOP offers brilliant dialogue and a surprisingly broad mockery of political power. But its nearly constant obscenity and flat finish limit its audience. For discerning adults who can handle the content, WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For everyone else, consider these.