In fact, it's actually a rather good film. If only the film makers had listened to her. Right at the start of the film, Jennifer Garner's character (ably assisted by her upper lip) makes a comment about how if the Saudi's allowed the FBI into the country to investigate the crime, it could prove to be enormously destructive. Instead, once the FBI turn up, these two get relegated to standing to one side and looking suitably impressed every time one of the names-above-the-title stars does something brilliant. I thought to myself that this film would almost certainly be more interesting and entertaining if the whole idea about the FBI agents had been removed, and instead, we'd just been following the wily but unfailingly polite Colonel Al Ghazi and his loyal sidekick Sergeant Haytham as they tried to solve the crime. Trying to solve a horrific crime whilst faced with hostility from their fellow officers and political interference from above. Two good cops working in a corrupt, brutal system. The two Saudi cops, on the other hand, are interesting characters. Thus nearly every single advance in the case is made by these three.
What's worse, although they aren't interesting, they are nevertheless vastly superior to everyone else. Now, I like Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper and Jennifer Garner('s upper lip) who play the FBI agents, and although all three do the best they can with the material they are given, no effort is made to make their characters interesting. There then follows a small amount of detective work, some interesting political manoeuvring and two really rather well-done shoot outs. Some FBI agents led by Jamie Foxx, fast talk and bamboozle their way into the country to investigate, where they team up with two Saudi cops. The plot is this: There is a big terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia. Which was little odd, because I am very fond indeed of Jennifer Garner's upper lip. However, halfway through watching it, it occurred to me that it would in fact have been a much more interesting film if none of the stars were in it.
Nice performances, a slightly-new take on the buddy-cop story, Jennifer Garner's upper lip, and some excellent action set pieces.
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