By now, you should know the story behind Act of Valor.  I refer not to the plot but the story behind the making of the action/thriller.  Directors Scott Waugh and Mike McCoy worked with real Navy SEALs in order to bring a sense of you-are-there authenticity to the proceedings, and in terms of the action, they have succeeded.

Act of Valor begins with the brutal kidnapping of a CIA operative (Roselyn Sanchez).  The SEALs are sent on a rescue mission, and eventually succeed in pulling her out of a real-life hell hole, only to discover that something more hideous is about to be released on an unsuspecting world.

The most interesting, and well publicized, aspect of the film is the involvement of the SEALs themselves. They’re not simply technical advisors for the action sequences, they’re actually in the film as characters, and while this is a great advertising gimmick, not to mention an obvious bonus when it comes to the authenticity of the action, the film suffers as a consequence. 

I overheard comments from the screening audience of bad acting, and obviously they’re right, none of the eight active duty Navy SEALs have the ability to deliver a line with any depth or expression of emotion.  It’s like listening to a flat read, but isn’t that to be expected?  I’m not even sure if bad acting is an appropriate comment to be leveled towards those who have zero training as an actor. But the consequence of the filmmakers taking this unusual approach is that all of the villains – all played by professionals – come across as far more interesting to the point where you may find yourself wishing there was more time spent with them.

However, the whole reason for this film’s being is the action, and here Act of Valor shines.  The search and rescue operation when trying to free Sanchez is tense, well executed, and effectively gripping.  There is that sense that what you’re watching is how such an operation is truly executed, and it is impossible not to feel respect for these undeniably brave men doing what has to be the toughest and most unenviable job in the world.

The second half of the film has the SEALs attempting to divert a disaster of unbelievable proportions, and again, the action itself is well choreographed and executed – we’re told that much of the ammo used was actually real – but here the story-telling aspect gets murky, and while you may be on the edge of your seat willing a victory for the highly trained SEALs, you’re never entirely sure where you are or what you’re watching.  The end result feels undisciplined and disappointingly confused.

The Hollywood film factory depends heavily on overseas sales, but you can’t help wondering whether there will be an appreciative audience for a film such as Act of Valor outside of its home turf.  While the final fade out may leave American audiences with a sense of pride – and it should; there’s nothing to compare with what our military does on a daily basis – overseas, the whole enterprise may be in danger of coming across as nothing more than an exercise in flag-waving propaganda.

 MPAA Rating:  R      Length:   101 minutes      Overall Rating: 6 (out of 10)