Jarhead 2: Field of Fire (2014)

               “Jarhead 2” is a straight to DVD sequel to “Jarhead”. It was directed by Don Michael Paul (who also directed Jarhead 4).  The movie sets the tone as it starts with a pompous, macho bull shit voiceover. The setting is Patrol Base Cobra in Afghanistan. It is under heavy fire. It doesn’t help that is is located in a valley with the enemy controlling the high ground. (This is a similarly ludicrous strategic situation that we get in “The Outpost”.) But this is not an Alamo movie, it is a lost patrol movie. A convoy of four trucks and Humvees is ambushed and all of the vehicles are destroyed. As  is typical for this type of combat porn, the Americans never miss when they fire at jihadists and every shot is a kill. Navy SEAL Fox (Cole Hauser) takes command as they attempt to reach a village. Included in the group is an Afghan collaborator and an educated Afghani woman named Anoosh. Being educated makes her a target for the Taliban. Along the way, the have a duel with a sniper and take on two technicals (pickup trucks with machine guns in the bed).  When they reach the village, they hold up in the police station. (So, I guess there is an Alamo after all.)  And a rescue mission as Anoosh gets taken and has to be saved. I have to credit the movie for having a variety of scenarios.

       If you saw “Jarhead” and complained about the lack of action, you might actually like this sequel better. It certainly has more combat in it. It is basically a series of set pieces connected by walking. But while the lack of killing in “Jarhead” is realistic, “Jarhead 2” is laughably implausible. The tactics are ridiculous, but it is entertaining fluff. It definitely fits into the combat porn subgenre. But you should have guessed that the moment you read that it was straight to DVD.  It is set apart from the usual sequel that plays off the success of the original because it has surprisingly good acting. The cast is not well known, except for Hauser who was a good casting. No one embarrasses themself. You may not know the actor, but you will recognize all the stereotypical characters. Their deaths are predictable and the movie is not afraid to kill off heroes.

            “Jarhead 2” is mindless entertainment. If you prefer violence over talking, it might fit the bill for rainy day where your mind does not want to do any heavy lifting.

GRADE  =  C