Reporter Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady, a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program's founder, Bill Django, has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him. Intrigued by his new acquaintance's far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to tag along. When the pair tracks Django to a clandestine training camp run by renegade psychic Larry Hooper, the reporter is trapped in the middle of a grudge match between the forces of Django's New Earth Army and Hooper's personal militia of super soldiers. In order to survive this wild adventure, Bob will have to outwit an enemy he never thought possible.

In the final madcap moments of the film the lead characters spike an army bases eggs with acid and everyone takes a psychedelic trip ending a movie that was very much like an acid trip. You almost wonder if the writers and producers were dropping acid while they thought up the idea and the story for this movie as it is that zany and that wacky and that much fun. The Men Who Stare at Goats is a wildly funny, irreverent, silly comedy that laughs at itself and everyone that is seeing it as it has fun even if the story is so far fetched and ridiculous at times. That’s partly what makes it so fun and so comical is they just don’t really care how ridiculous the story can me at times.

The story which revolves around the government and army during the 1980’s trying to create a new army of physic soldiers and peace loving warriors in response to failures in Vietnam is original and comical and something not done or tried yet. The scary part is you can almost believe our government would be so silly and wasteful in trying these kinds of experiments and that adds a sense of realism to the story that makes it that much more hilarious. No government or army is safe from the humor of the film as it twists and mangles and leaves you holding your side with laughter.

The producers and writers also didn’t leave out tongue in cheek kind of moments and humor. The New Earth Army refers to its members as Jedi in reference to the Star Wars films. The newest recruit to the Jedi order is Ewan McGregor who incidentally played Obi Wan Kenobi in three Star Wars films and the film plays with this and the word play is hilarious. The film also has fun with the recent struggles of the Iraqi war and being kidnapped by Islamic factions in the middle east. There is no subject they aren’t willing to touch and make fun of and its refreshing and exciting to see film makers like Clooney make light of such events.

The cast is superb and how could it not be with actors like McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges at its helm. Each plays a slightly nutty and eccentric character and each brings a sense of glee and joy to each character they are playing. From McGregor’s neurotic insecure reporter to Clooney’s crazy super Jedi to Bridges as the ultimate hippie who got to run a government program before he was dishonorably discharged each character is fun, light hearted and played to perfection by its amazing cast. The movie is a joyous comical endeavor and just like the name of the film it has so very much fun and is so very silly.

Grade: B+