WAR PIGS (2015) ** ½

Mickey Rourke sends Luke Goss and Dolph Lundgren to whip the eponymous army unit into shape and get them ready for battle.  After the grunts gradually earn Goss’ respect, they receive orders to go behind enemy lines and bring back information on a new superweapon the Nazis have been tinkering with.  When two of Goss’ men are captured by the Germans, he rallies the troops together for a rescue mission.

Director Ryan Little makes the most of the film’s slim budget.  Although it’s relatively slow going at the outset, things heat up nicely during the third act.  If you’re patient enough, you’ll be treated to some decent WWII action.

The funniest thing about War Pigs is Rourke’s character.  I guess Little couldn’t talk Rourke into cutting his hair or taking off his white cowboy hat.  I’ve seen some sights in my time, but seeing Mickey Rourke wearing a cowboy hat and long hair trying to pass himself off as a WWII colonel will be hard to forget.

Dolph does a good job as a French foreign legion captain.  He and Goss make for a solid team.  If only Dolph was given more to do than to ask Goss, “Do you think the men are ready?” every ten minutes.  Goss, looking grizzled and miserable, wears his Army fatigues in an authentic manner.  He looks like he just walked out of a Sam Fuller flick.  Contrast his appearance with that of Rourke.  They look like they came out of two different movies. 

I just wish the war pigs themselves were a bit more distinguishable.  They all seem interchangeable and fail to make much of an impression.  At all times they look like a bunch of struggling 21^st century actors trying to pass themselves off as wisecracking Army grunts.  They aren’t great or anything, but they look much more authentic than Rourke.  

AKA:  Saints and Soldiers:  War Pigs.