War Dogs Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two bros exploit a government loophole to become arms dealers, accidentally spark an international incident, and then blame each other when things go south – basically, a very expensive ‘bro-mance’ gone wrong.

🍿 War Dogs: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Struggling in Miami

In 2005, David Packouz, a struggling massage therapist in Miami, is looking for a way to support his pregnant girlfriend, Iz. He’s unsuccessfully trying to sell high-end bedsheets to retirement homes. Life takes an unexpected turn when he reconnects with his childhood friend, Efraim Diveroli, at a funeral.

Entering the World of Arms Dealing

Efraim, who now lives in Los Angeles, reveals he’s an arms dealer, buying and selling weapons to the U.S. government for the war in Iraq. He explains the process of bidding on small government contracts and the potential for huge profits. Seeing an opportunity, David joins Efraim’s company, AEY, despite his and Iz’s opposition to the war, telling Iz he’s selling cotton sheets.

The Beretta Deal and Jordan

AEY lands a lucrative contract to supply Beretta pistols to U.S. troops in Baghdad. However, an Italian embargo complicates the delivery, forcing them to reroute the shipment through Jordan. When the shipment gets held up, David and Efraim travel to Jordan to secure its release, navigating bribes and bureaucracy.

The Road to Iraq

Unable to fly the guns directly to Baghdad, David and Efraim hire a local driver to transport the shipment by truck across the border into Iraq. The journey is fraught with danger, including bribing border patrol and surviving an attack by insurgents. They successfully deliver the pistols and receive their payment, solidifying AEY’s reputation.

The Afghan Deal and Henry Girard

AEY secures increasingly larger deals, leading to a more lavish lifestyle. Efraim becomes more erratic and untrustworthy. They land their biggest contract yet: the $300 million “Afghan Deal” to arm the Afghan military. To fulfill this massive order, they partner with the legendary, but shady, arms dealer Henry Girard, who has access to a vast stockpile of ammunition in Albania.

Trouble in Albania and Betrayal

David and Efraim travel to Albania to inspect the ammunition. David discovers that the rounds are Chinese-made, violating a U.S. embargo. Efraim decides to repackage the ammunition to conceal its origin. He also plans to cut Girard out of the deal. These decisions lead to David’s kidnapping and assault by Girard’s men, and the apparent death of their Albanian driver. David leaves Albania, his trust shattered.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• David Packouz (Miles Teller): A struggling massage therapist who joins his childhood friend in the arms dealing business to provide for his family.
• Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill): An ambitious and morally flexible arms dealer who lures his friend into a world of high-stakes deals and dangerous situations.
• Iz (Ana de Armas): David’s girlfriend (later wife) who grapples with the ethical implications of his work and the secrets he keeps.
• Henry Girard (Bradley Cooper): A seasoned and shadowy arms dealer who becomes a key player in David and Efraim’s largest and riskiest deal.
• Ralph Slutsky (Kevin Pollak): A dry cleaning business owner who provides initial funding for David and Efraim’s arms dealing venture, under the false belief they are supporting Israel.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• David Packouz: “What do you know about war? They’ll tell you it’s about patriotism, democracy… or some shit about the other guy hating our freedom. But you wanna know what it’s really about? What do you see? A kid from Arkansas doing his patriotic duty to defend his country? I see a helmet, fire-retardant gloves, body armor and an M16. I see $17,500. That’s what it costs to outfit one American soldier.” – This opening narration sets the tone by highlighting the economic aspects of war.
• Efraim Diveroli: “War is an economy.” – Efraim’s blunt explanation of his motivation and perspective on conflict.
• Efraim Diveroli: “I don’t do drugs. I am drugs.” – Said with a confident smirk to highlight his persona and disregard for rules.
• Henry Girard: “Sometimes the bad guys make things happen.” – A cynical view on the necessities of dealing with unsavory characters in the arms trade.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $40,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $43,034,523
• Worldwide Gross: $86,434,523

💥 War Dogs Reviews

Personal Review

I went into ‘War Dogs’ expecting a lighthearted comedy, but it turned out to be much more than that. The story sucked me in from the start! The way David and Efraim got themselves into increasingly ridiculous situations, especially the one in Jordan, was both hilarious and terrifying. It made me think about the morality of the war industry, and I walked away feeling like I learned something while being entertained.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street'”
  • “Viewers interested in true crime stories”
  • “Those who enjoy films with strong performances by Jonah Hill and Miles Teller”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Violence”
  • “Suggestive content”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “A darkly comedic take on the true story, ‘War Dogs’ excels thanks to the electric chemistry between Hill and Teller. While it occasionally struggles with tonal shifts, the film offers a compelling glimpse into the morally ambiguous world of arms dealing.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Although ‘War Dogs’ is based on a fascinating real-life scandal, it doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential. The performances are strong, but the film lacks a certain depth, settling for entertainment over true insight.

Audience Reactions

Jonah Hill’s performance steals the show; his portrayal of Efraim is both hilarious and unsettling.: Viewers praise the movie’s blend of comedy and drama, making it a compelling and thought-provoking watch.

Overall Consensus: A generally well-received film that blends dark humor with a true story, offering an entertaining, though not profoundly insightful, look at the world of arms dealing.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The real David Packouz makes a cameo in the film as the singer in the retirement home.”
• “Much of the filming took place in Romania, standing in for locations like Albania and Jordan.”
• “The film draws inspiration from ‘Scarface’ and ‘Lord of War,’ with visual and thematic references throughout.”
• “Jonah Hill gained weight for his role as Efraim Diveroli to more closely resemble the real person.”

🖥️ How to Watch War Dogs?

War Dogs is available to rent or purchase on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for broadcast options. Availability may vary depending on your region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed War Dogs, you might like these similar films:

• Lord of War (2005): Explores the dark side of the arms trade with a focus on the moral ambiguities and global impact, similar to War Dogs but with a more serious tone.
• The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Features a similar rise-and-fall narrative driven by greed and excess, with charismatic but morally questionable protagonists.
• American Made (2017): Based on a true story of a pilot who becomes a drug smuggler for the CIA, highlighting corruption and the dark side of government operations.
• Pain & Gain (2013): A dark comedy based on a true story of bodybuilders who get caught up in a criminal enterprise in Miami.

🛒 War Dogs Related Products

• War Dogs Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the official War Dogs movie poster. Perfect for fans to display their love for the film.
• Rolling Stone Magazine – ‘The Stoner Arms Dealers’: Read the original Rolling Stone article that inspired the movie. Get the full story behind David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli.
• War Dogs T-Shirt: Official War Dogs movie merchandise featuring a unique design inspired by the film’s themes and characters. Show off your favorite movie with this exclusive apparel.
• Lord of War [Blu-ray]: Lord of War is a 2005 American political crime thriller film written, produced, and directed by Andrew Niccol, and starring Nicolas Cage, Bridget Moynahan, Jared Leto, Ian Holm, and Ethan Hawke. Cage plays an illegal arms dealer, loosely based on the life of Viktor Bout.

🎧 Soundtrack

War Dogs features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Fortunate Son” – performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival
• “Time of the Season” – performed by The Zombies
• “Behind the Blue Curtain” – performed by The Raconteurs

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

JONAH HILL – Buying weed

Check out this hilarious clip from War Dogs where Jonah Hill tries to buy weed, but things don’t go as planned. It’s a great example of the movie’s dark comedy.

Jonah Hill Gets Scammed (WarDogs)

This scene from War Dogs shows just how dangerous the arms dealing business can be. Jonah Hill’s character gets scammed, and it’s a tense and exciting scene.

Did you know Ana De Armas couldn’t speak English in War Dogs?

This video reveals a fascinating behind-the-scenes fact about War Dogs: Ana de Armas couldn’t speak English during filming. It’s a testament to her acting skills that she was able to pull off such a convincing performance.

True Story of Two Young Friends Landing a $300 Million Contract to Supply Afghan Forces With Guns

This video tells the incredible true story behind War Dogs. It’s a fascinating and informative watch for anyone who wants to know more about the real-life events that inspired the movie.

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