Chattanooga Pulse

We Americans are pretty good at satire—one need only look at the plays of Neil Simon, the essays of David Sedaris, and the whole canon of James Thurber to realize it—but we can’t quite claim the concept as our own.

No, that honor would have to go to the Brits with their ever-reliable Monty Python, the scathing writings of Charles Dickens, the very concept of the Punch and Judy show, and now, Armando Iannucci’s new film In The Loop (produced by the BBC) which has been called “the funniest big-screen satire in recent memory” by A.O. Scott of The New York Times.

In The Loop makes its way to Chattanooga this week via the Arts and Education Council’s Independent Film Series, and takes every opportunity to poke fun at political leaders during the Iraq war crisis with biting one-liners and verbal gags penned by two BBC comedy vets.

In the world of In The Loop, the president of the United States and the prime minister of the UK are itching to start a war.  To their dismay, not everyone thinks that such a war would be in the best interest of both countries.  Two of these men are American General George Miller (James Gandolfini, The Sopranos) and British Secretary of State for International Development Simon Foster (Tom Hollander, Pirates of the Caribbean).

Miller is quite stalwart in his position, but a verbal blunder on primetime TV leads the world to think that Secretary Foster is as anxious to take up arms as is his prime minister.

This sends the prime minister’s communications director (Peter Capaldi) into a frenzy as he sends his team over to the United States to delegate—a place where apparently (according to In The Loop) the cost of a war can be added up on something as simple as a kid’s toy calculator in the hands of a verbally abusive, dry-witted general.

In skimming critical reactions to In The Loop, you’ll surely come across many comments about the film’s use of strong language, including the stinging line from The Hollywood Reporter, “The obscenities are awe-inspiring.”  Critics haven’t been talking like this since Joel and Ethan Coen unleashed The Big Lebowski in 1998, but is this reaction any big surprise?

One can expect it as the natural result of acerbic British wit crashing against the bone-dry humor that is the hallmark of American satirical tradition.  They are destined to be opinionated, loud-mouthed bedfellows, and with such talented players as Steve Coogan (Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, Tropic Thunder), Peter Capaldi, and James Gandolfini, the comedic timing is promised to be perfect.

A rip-roaring comedy slice of Brit wit is the perfect selection to play middle man between last week’s bracing doc The Horse Boy and next week’s charming rom-com Adam.  Even if you hate politics, In the Loop will surely give you something to laugh about.  But watch out: The thing about satire is that you may be unknowingly laughing at yourself.

In The Loop
Directed by Armando Iannucci
Starring James Gandolfini, Tom Hollander
Rated R
Running time: 106 minutes