Movie Summary of “In The Loop” by Michael The Moviegoer.
IN THE LOOP = ***1/2
“Complex Superiority”
The new political satire “In The Loop” is an oddly successful mash-up of “The Office” and “The West Wing”. It’s a searingly funny portrait of UK-US politics making writer/director Armando Iannucci a sort of British version of Aaron Sorkin.
Though the cast is evenly split between British and American actors, the comedy is mostly of a British nature. Perhaps it’s that dry British sense of deadpan humor that makes this feel more like a mature and sophisticated political comedy, rather than the kind the U.S. has produced in recent years (remember the yukky “Man Of The Year”?).
When a sound bite from a British government minister is blown all out of proportion, the U.S. suspects it’s a code for backing a war in the Middle East. This results in a hilarious dominoe-effect of misunderstandings including the possible existence of a secret war committee in Washington.
The film hits the ground running at a rapid-fire pace and never pauses to catch it’s breath. It’s endlessly exciting and exhilarating throughout.
James Gandolfini is the most well-known of the American actors. But the biggest surprise is a now-28-yeal-old Anna Chlumsky as an aide to the assistant secretary of state. Chlumsky, you may recall, charmed audiences as the little-girl love interest of Macaulay Culkin in 1991’s “My Girl”. Here she is all grown-up and clearly ready to tackle an acting career as an adult. She’s sensational!
“In The Loop” is smart and funny without being slapstick, zany or loopy. It’s well worth seeking out if you love to laugh at politicians.
DVD Double-Feature: America has had its share of good political comedies. One of my favorites is 1997’s “Wag The Dog” which was written by David Mamet. The president hires fix-it man Robert DeNiro to help stage a fake war to distract the media from his personal life. DeNiro then recruits a Hollywood film producer played by Dustin Hoffman to help him with the task. Of the Clinton-era, but still very funny today.
Michael The Moviegoer
