Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

"An unassuming and largely Kabul-set dramedy that never overplays its hand, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot takes place a few years into the war in Afghanistan. Tina Fey stars as journo Kim Baker (this being based on the memoir of Kim Barker), who takes the plunge to become a war correspondent when weighing the offer against her humdrum life Stateside. A slew of fish-out-of-water scenarios follow as Baker collides with Afghans’ cultural norms, joins the ranks of hard-partying journos, experiences life in a conflict zone first-hand and forges a relationship with the US Marines (whose acronym-heavy, expletive-happy lingo informs the title)."

"The movie never quite shakes off a glib, incurious outsider’s perspective that can tilt into outright cluelessness, particularly where some of its more egregious casting choices are concerned."

"Robustly entertaining."

"The film ... rests in a tidiness that's at odds with the messiness of the milieu. And even when we are exposed to glimpses of wartime violence and menace, it's undercut by fuzzy platitudes near the end of the film."

"Ficara and Requa have an irreverent streak, one that even might strike some as a little flippant against the gravity of the war."

"On many levels, the details of the conflict -- convincingly staged in New Mexico -- make for riveting viewing but there are major flaws in the film."

"An appealing mix of charm and chutzpah, [Fey] makes for an appealing and unashamedly flawed guide to the craziness of life in the Kabul "Kabubble"."

"As in their previous films (I Love You Phillip Morris; Crazy, Stupid, Love; Focus), directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa enjoy just scattershot success in hitting their seriocomic targets..."

"Comedy for grown-ups that sometimes struggles with its ambitious brief, but always remembers that the best laughs contain the odd shard of shrapnel."