Movie Review: Delta Farce
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this lowbrow war send up is aimed
at 13-year-olds who like broad jokes based on stereotypes.
Since the story is about three dopey reservists who confuse
Mexico for Iraq, there are several culturally insensitive
moments that portray Mexicans (not to mention Southern men)
very stereotypically. Language includes "s--t" and "retard."
Star Larry the Cable Guy and his pals spew many fart jokes and
fire many rounds of ammunition for their "mission." Families
with loved ones deployed in Iraq probably won't be amused, even
if the movie is dedicated to the troops.
Families can talk about whether this movie is a criticism of the war or a tribute to the troops it's dedicated to. Is it funny to ridicule the military, the war, and active reservists? Why or why not? How are Mexicans portrayed? What stereotypes does the film exploit? Does calling something a "spoof" mean it's OK to go for laughs based on labels and preconceived notions?
Common Sense Media Review
No matter how you feel about the current war in Iraq, it's
probably safe to say that most families don't consider it a
funny topic. Apparently
Larry
the Cable Guy -- otherwise known as the "Git 'er done"
member of the Blue Collar Comedy group -- and his pal, director
C.B. Harding, thought otherwise when they developed this war
movie parody.
A recently jilted Larry and his loser buddies Everett ( DJ Qualls) and Bill (Bill Engvall) hole up at their state Army reservists' base for a weekend of drinking and hunting. When they're activated by hard-nosed Sergeant Kilgore ( Keith David channeling R. Lee Ermey from Full Metal Jacket ), they still don't understand the severity of being called up for duty.
These three dolts can't even make it to Fallujah on their air transport: They accidentally get ejected in Mexico, and since they were sleeping mid-air, they assume they've landed in the thick of action. From that point on, the movie's cultural idiocy is in full force. No Mexican stereotype -- from the bare-shouldered senorita (in this case Marisol Nichols) to the clichéd gun standoff -- goes unexploited.
The three amigos come across two Mexican men speaking Spanish but still believe they're in Iraq. The Mexicans, realizing that the American soldiers are indeed as dense as their helmets, lure the threesome to their besieged village to ward off bandits led by Carlos Santana (no, not the musician, the underrated character actor Danny Trejo from Grindhouse and Spy Kids ).
David and Trejo are compelling supporting players, but even their presence can't make DELTA FARCE watchable. The war just isn't amusing, and neither is portraying red-state soldiers and Mexicans as stereotypical buffoons. And that's something moviegoers on every point of the political spectrum would probably agree upon.
Families who enjoy sometimes-bawdy genre parodies will also like Top Secret!, The Naked Gun series, and the comedy classic Airplane!
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
