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Action is the better part of "Valor"

In a world that has become accustomed to mockumentary television ("The Office", "Modern Family", "Parks and Recreation"), "Act of Valor" twists the genre around and takes an approach that might be termed "hawkumentary". Billed as an action film starring active-duty Navy SEALs, it is really a two-hour commercial for the US military covered with a thin veneer of fiction.

For all that, directing team Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh, handle their first feature film admirably. They have clearly drawn on their shared experience as stuntmen and commercial directors to make the most out of the opportunity that the US Navy has given them. Utilizing arguably the most expensive props in the world - aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, helicopters - and some of the best-trained stuntmen in the world - the SEALs - the action scenes are, frankly, flawless. That the battle scenes are nearly all filmed with real bullets whizzing around makes it all that much more impressive. Mixing in numerous loving shots of the sun settling behind the ships at sea and helicopters hovering on the horizon makes it clear that it is not only the men, but also the equipment, that is being showcased.

The story, on the other hand, is a complete loss. The military engagements are strung together by an "imminent threat" by (of course) a "jihadist". The plot is so underdeveloped that it lacks any sense of cohesion, let alone urgency. There is no back story and the furtive attempts at character development are so empty that it could be argued that Kurt Johnstad ("300") doesn't really deserve a writing credit at all. Understandably, the point of this whole outing is not the story, but the lack of effort boarders on disrespectful. It would have been equally, if not more effective, to simply watch the SEALs go on a series of unrelated missions. Come to think of it, some tax dollars could have been saved by not hiring a screenwriter at all.

This approach would also have spared the audience the discomfort of watching the incidental scenes between the various SEALs. While their dialogue may be an accurate representation of their interactions, they all appear so wooden when discussing anything but their impending missions (ie, home life, etc) that it makes Casper Van Dien look like Lawrence Olivier. The choice to insert a few real actors, notably Roselyn Sanchez (TV's "Without A Trace") and Nestor Serrano (TV's "24") may have been a mistake, as it only highlights the obvious discomfort that the real military personnel have in being on screen.

For military enthusiasts, "Act of Valor" is a must-see. The depictions of combat, the level of dedication, training, and commitment of these men who have made being a warrior their way of life, and the capabilities of the US military are both awe-inspiring and thought-provoking. It is an equally important master class for any aspiring action directors. For anyone who expects acting and story, however, discretion may be a wiser choice than "Valor".