Watch Army of One

Army of One is a satirical comedy movie released in 2016, directed by Larry Charles and starring Nicolas Cage, Russell Brand, and Wendi McLendon-Covey. The movie is a fictionalized account of the real-life story of Gary Faulkner, an American handyman who suffered from mental illness and embarked on a self-described mission to travel to Pakistan and capture Osama bin Laden.

The movie opens with Gary Faulkner (Nicolas Cage) experiencing a divine revelation, where he sees a vision of God asking him to go on a mission to capture Osama bin Laden. Convinced that it is his destiny, Faulkner embarks on a solo journey to Pakistan, where he believes he can capture the terrorist leader with a sword he had custom-made in America. Armed with only his sword and his unwavering determination, Faulkner sets out to bring bin Laden to justice.

Along the way, Faulkner encounters a cast of eccentric characters who both help and hinder his quest. Among them is Russell Brand, playing Faulkner's drug-dealing best friend, who tries to dissuade him from his dangerous mission. Wendi McLendon-Covey plays Marci Mitchell, Faulkner's ex-wife, who is initially skeptical of his plan but eventually becomes his biggest supporter.

The movie is essentially a road trip comedy, with Faulkner travelling through various countries on his way to Pakistan. He faces numerous obstacles, including getting stuck at the airport, being kidnapped by armed men, and facing extreme heat and exhaustion in the desert. However, Faulkner remains single-minded in his goal, refusing to give up even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Throughout the movie, Nicolas Cage gives an energetic and entertaining performance as Gary Faulkner. He fully embraces the character's quirks and delusions, creating a memorable portrayal of a man driven by his convictions. Russell Brand is also great as Faulkner's loyal friend, providing some comic relief in the movie's more tense moments.

However, the movie is not without its flaws. At times, it seems to veer too heavily into caricature, with some of the characters and situations feeling too exaggerated for the story's tone. Additionally, while the movie is intended to be a satire, it sometimes feels like it is making fun of the real-life Faulkner rather than using his story as a jumping-off point for a broader commentary on American exceptionalism and obsession with celebrity.

Overall, Army of One is a fun and entertaining movie that showcases Nicolas Cage's talents as a character actor. While not without its flaws, it is an interesting exploration of one man's quest to bring a notorious terrorist to justice, and the lengths to which he is willing to go to achieve his goal.

Army of One is a 2016 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2 and a MetaScore of 43.