The debut feature from George Clooney’s writing and producing partner, Grant Heslov, is one of the unexpected triumphs at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. “The Men Who Stare At Goats” stars George Clooney and Ewan McGregor, along with Jeff Bridges and the eternally sour Kevin Spacey, and is an uproarious, ludicrous and unforgettable bizzaro comedy about a special psychic ops branch of the US Army. The division has been disbanded, and Clooney plays one of its former all-stars; a self-titled “Jedi warrior” who may have caused his team’s collapse. McGregor, meanwhile, flexes his comedic chops as the journalist who uncovers this strange story.
The film delivers some of the most gut-busting and consistent laughs since “Bad Santa,” and carries a bit of that film’s memorable self-deprecation. It also provides us with a much needed reminder that Judd Apatow isn’t the only one making Hollywood-approved comedies that can put us in hysterics, even if no one would have guessed such a film would come from the co-writer of “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Thankfully, any sort of Iraqi war commentary or seemingly obligatory insight on today’s global climate is discarded in favor of pure absurdist entertainment, much more on par with the Coen brothers’ style. And if for no other reason, the film is worth seeing for Clooney’s ballsy, ego-free performance, reminding us that he’s as much a chameleonic actor as he is a movie star. [A-] — Luke Gorham