“The Pentagon Wars” is an HBO produced comedy based on an adaptation of Lt. Col. James G. Burton’s 1993 book of the same name. The story follows the development of the Bradley fighting vehicle, a troop carrier that was not only produced at great cost (in excess of 13 billion of our tax dollars) but was a totally unsafe deathtrap for the soldiers riding in it.
Kelsey Grammar plays General Partridge, the officer in charge of the Bradley’s development. One refreshing angle of this movie is that you never confused him with his long running character Frasier for a second. As guest columnist Charles (previous reviewer of “Avatar”) says of Grammar’s performance in this movie “he [Grammar] makes the totally indefensible not only seem plausible and but also comical.” Richard Schiff also gives a fine performance as the original career officer trying to maintain his sanity while he watched his straightforward, common sense defense department project spiral out of control over nearly two decades into one of the most publicized and offensive examples of the military industrial complex in recent history.
One of the more theatrical moments in the Pentagon wars is Burton’s idea to use sheep to test what would happen to soldiers if the vehicle was hit by an RPG. Burton’s test is obstructed by the General’s creation of a new (classified) department designated as “Ruminant Procurement,” requiring sheep specifications to be examined i.e. type of sheep, length of coat, gender et cetera and almost another years to actually implement the sheep specs. Meanwhile, the army is forcing the vehicle into production despite its obvious failings.
The problems with the project were so obvious that Israel bought some, but seeing right off the bat that the vehicle as designed was a death trap, required modifications creating two production lines: one for the Israeli version and one for the flawed U.S. version: produced by its own country with the knowing enthusiasm and approval of the military!
There was only one way to play this movie, and that was as a comedy—a comedy that still carried its message. Any other attempt would have been sorely depressing film that few would have wanted to see.
A great rose one you should see when you get the chance.
J.P.'s I'm Outta Here Movie Thoughts 
Bonnie
April 16, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Honey you really do know how to pick them…this movie was awesome, and, as I’ve said before, if only my grandfather could have seen this movie, he would have laughed himself silly and then would have turned to us and said, “you know the sad thing about this is that it’s all completely true!” Despite being a big proponent of a strong American military he had no grand illusions about the military bureaucracy or military intelligence, and he was in a position to know…I really think you have to read his book.
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Jude
April 16, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Dude, when are you and Dr. H going to review another film? Word on the street is that there’s another joint review in the works…
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jpfmovies
April 18, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Jude, as usual the word the street is correct. We are pondering, and this is in no way a promise, about reviewing the 5 best car chase scenes made for the big screen. For balance sake, it would have to be followed by the 5 worst car chases in movie history. How does sit in your craw?
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Holly Robinson
April 20, 2010 at 12:24 pm
I agree with Jude. I want to see more JP/Dr. H collaborations! Keep up the good work! And who is this mysterious Dr. H anyway? I think you should do a post introducing him to the movie-watching public (rather belatedly, I might add!).
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jpfmovies
April 20, 2010 at 7:48 pm
We have something in the works involving the 5 best and worst car chases in recent cinema history.
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Holly Robinson
April 21, 2010 at 2:10 am
Wonderful…But you still didn’t answer my question about the mysterious Dr. H! Maybe he would like to comment on his own behalf? Or is he like the Lone Ranger or something? Who is that masked man? :-)
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jpfmovies
April 21, 2010 at 3:04 am
I’ll let him state his position on the matter.
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