Today’s quick review: Jarhead 2: Field of Fire. Corporal Chris Merrimette (Josh Kelly) and his squad are supply Marines stationed in Afghanistan, tasked with moving valuable supplies through hostile territory. On one such mission, they run into Fox (Cole Hauser), a Navy SEAL survivor trying to escort Anoosh Hassan (Cassie Layton) out of the country. Ambushed by Taliban forces, Merrimette and his men face an arduous journey to get Hassan to safety.
Jarhead 2: Field of Fire is a war drama about a squad of Marines stranded in a Taliban-controlled region of Afghanistan. The movie follows Merrimette, the squad’s newly appointed leader, as he tries to salvage what’s left of a mission gone horribly wrong. Jarhead 2 is a by-the-numbers action movie that sticks to a basic plot and simple character development. Its safe choicese make a passable watch, but not one that leaves much of an impression.
Jarhead 2 takes a very different approach than its predecessor. Where the original Jarhead was a true story about the day-to-day life of a Marine during the Gulf War, Jarhead 2 is a fictional, action-oriented story set in Afghanistan. The extra action does make the sequel a little more exciting, but it robs the movie of much of its identity. Mediocre firefights, thin character development, and a predictable plot keep Jarhead 2 from standing out.
Jarhead 2: Field of Fire will hold some appeal for fans of the budget action genre, but anyone else will want to steer clear. Jarhead 2 tries to convey the ideals of the United States military, especially regarding its presence in Afghanistan, but its execution falls short. The movie has some value as a quick source of action, but it’s missing the spectacle, the heart, and the thematic depth found in the best war films.
For a rescue mission with a larger scale and better emotional payoff, try Saving Private Ryan. For a war movie that tries something similar with more success, try Act of Valor. For a more cynical take on war, try Full Metal Jacket. For a more mundane look at life in the Marines, try Jarhead.
5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for decent execution without much to say.