War on Everyone

Name: War on Everyone
Genre: Action, Comedy
Released: February 3, 2017
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 50

2017

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Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Ratings

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5.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Ratings

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War On Everyone

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Movie Details & Credits

Saban Films | Release Date: February 3, 2017 | R

Summary: Terry (Alexander Skarsgård) and Bob (Michael Peña)are two crooked cops who frame and blackmail criminals all over town. Looking for the ultimate pay-off, they try to extort a strip-club manager (Caleb Landry Jones) and his eccentric, junkie boss, (Theo James), but get more than they bargained for when their hair-brained scheme uncovers aTerry (Alexander Skarsgård) and Bob (Michael Peña)are two crooked cops who frame and blackmail criminals all over town. Looking for the ultimate pay-off, they try to extort a strip-club manager (Caleb Landry Jones) and his eccentric, junkie boss, (Theo James), but get more than they bargained for when their hair-brained scheme uncovers a bigger, darker secret. … Expand

Director: John Michael McDonagh

Genre(s): Action, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Peter Debruge

Jan 31, 2017

While his American competition practices the right to remain silent, McDonagh writes his clever, coal-black heart out, delivering another firecracker script. Read full review

David Fear

Feb 2, 2017

For some folks, such retrograde pleasures have lost their bloody-knuckled charm. If this is still your bag all these years later and you wish the 1990s had never ended, however, then everyone wins. Read full review

Kenji Fujishima

Feb 2, 2017

Much of it feels inconsequential compared to his previous films, but McDonagh's unflagging anarchic energy keeps it juicily diverting in the moment. Read full review

The Film Stage Tommaso Tocci

Jan 31, 2017

A noticeable step down from the highs of The Guard and Calvary, War on Everyone is still only McDonagh’s third effort and nonetheless a bold, lively endeavour. Read full review

Leah Greenblatt

Feb 3, 2017

Crass, senseless, and relentlessly talky, War on Everyone mostly seems like a movie at war with itself. Read full review

Stephen Dalton

Jan 31, 2017

War on Everyone is a little too keen to advertise its own cleverness. The characters feel more like random collections of quirky tics than real people. Read full review

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Oct 6, 2016

Theoretically, getting to see Peña and Skarsgård goof around with these leading roles is the film’s headline draw; but the script is so misguidedly pleased with itself, all you’re doing is watching two amiable stars mug strenuously and try their best. Read full review

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User Reviews

Dumnomnii

Feb 7, 2017

This is one of those films that at the start looks like the standard cop comedy movie, but as it moves along, it goes to places you wouldn't expect, has the sort of niche humour that in years to come, people will rate it as one of the great cult movies. Fantastic use of soundtrack andThis is one of those films that at the start looks like the standard cop comedy movie, but as it moves along, it goes to places you wouldn't expect, has the sort of niche humour that in years to come, people will rate it as one of the great cult movies. Fantastic use of soundtrack and locations, with a plot that keeps you gripped to the end. And I laughed out loud at some of the great lines.… Expand

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iCronic

Aug 9, 2017

The Second best comedy of 2016 behind Deadpool. In my Top 15 best movies of 2016. Won't be funny to you if you have a tumblr account

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saunderizer

Oct 14, 2017

Very good film, good laughs (the payoff when they go overseas to find their informant is brilliant), stylish cinematography. Pena and Skarsgard have great chemistry, and even though they're douches, are extremely likeable. This should be a cult classic within the next few years with anyVery good film, good laughs (the payoff when they go overseas to find their informant is brilliant), stylish cinematography. Pena and Skarsgard have great chemistry, and even though they're douches, are extremely likeable. This should be a cult classic within the next few years with any hope. The only thing lacking is a truly threatening bad guy; I get they're trying something different with the British lord and the wimpy sidekick who think that their money and status will fix everything, but the late revelation that drives the two main characters to the climax doesn't feel connected to the two main antagonists (in fact most involved aren't around to discuss it). But still, Pena and (I swear I'll never spell his name right but he should play Doc Savage!) Skarsgard are terrific, and nice to see Paul Reiser in a decent role (It wasn't anywhere near as good as "Seinfeld", but I liked "Mad About You" back in the day)… Expand

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BlackManta_777

May 28, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. **SPOILERS AHEAD** It was hard for me rate this film. Is it good? Ultimately, no. However, there are many elements that work so well that the movie exhibits flashes of the stellar movie that it could have been. The dialogue, characters, and acting are all fantastic, and for most of its runtime it exhibits a refreshing willingness to push buttons and cross boundaries. Sadly, the movie has a few serious flaws that keep me from offering an unqualified recommendation. First off, the plot had a few problems. There are a handful of sequences (like the conversation about jellyfish) that add nothing to the story, and not in a Tarantino-esque “cool non sequitur” way. There are whole subplots, like the trip to Iceland, that seem to exist solely as the setup for jokes. Similarly, some bizarre elements (like the burqa-wearing women playing tennis or the flamboyant character played by Caleb Landry Jones) pop up awkwardly out of the blue, stick around for a scene or two to provide comedic material, then disappear again.

The reveal that the villains are in league with pedophiles felt like a third-act Hail Mary to provide a traditional showdown between good and evil. Most of the movie up to that point is rooted in amorality, and that’s part of what makes it entertaining and unique. The two main characters (they can't really be called "heroes") are corrupt cops who routinely engage in all sorts of wrongdoing (including drunk driving, abusing cocaine, doling out vicious beatings, and bullying children). Associating the villains with pedophiles seems like a blatant attempt to render the main characters more sympathetic in comparison. The other big problem is tone. When “War on Everyone” gets it right, it's great. Part of the joy of the first 3/4 is the thrill of seeing a movie dedicated to totally irredeemable characters. The dialogue is politically incorrect in the best way – funny, irreverent, and fearless. But for a movie this extreme to work, it has to maintain a consistent tone throughout (“Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” is an example of a movie that gets it right). There are times when "War on Everything" seems a little too smugly self-satisfied, too enamored with it’s own coolness. It’s as if the filmmakers are nudging in in the ribs and saying "Can you believe we're getting away with this?" The movie is clearly indebted to Quentin Tarantino, but the difference is that Tarantino’s style never seems contrived.

Despite all this, I did give the movie a 7. Why? Because, truthfully, I would rather watch a dozen movies like “War on Everyone” than a conventional movie that achieves its aims. It’s a bit of a mess, but (for the most part) it’s a bold and unique one. It swings for the fences and fails, but I have to applaud its nerve. It had the potential to achieve greatness, and it falls short of that mark. However, it would be a mistake to throw the baby out with the bathwater. “War on Everyone” is still a brisk, entertaining movie, and I will probably watch it again.… Expand

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Ralfbergs

Feb 7, 2017

The movie was good, but something was missing. Had some humour in it and some laughable moments, but the storyline wasn't that good in my opinion. I mean it was dumb at some points. I watched in 2 weeks ago and have forgotten most of what happened in it, just remember the ending scene whichThe movie was good, but something was missing. Had some humour in it and some laughable moments, but the storyline wasn't that good in my opinion. I mean it was dumb at some points. I watched in 2 weeks ago and have forgotten most of what happened in it, just remember the ending scene which was in itself funny, but made the whole movie a bit dumb too. I don't know, I can't find anything really bad to say about it but can't find any really good things either. You can watch it if you don't have anything better - also I did hope for something more from the movie (because the trailer was intriguing)… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

CoKronakan

Oct 30, 2018

This movie really felt like a joke, especially at the first half of the movie. It felt like it wasn't taken seriously by neither the cast and especially by the director, and sadly this feeling wasn't lifted till the end of the movie. It really is a joke. Honestly don't know how all theseThis movie really felt like a joke, especially at the first half of the movie. It felt like it wasn't taken seriously by neither the cast and especially by the director, and sadly this feeling wasn't lifted till the end of the movie. It really is a joke. Honestly don't know how all these highly payed actors got in on this joke and though that it's going to be a good movie. And some of them where even in character like Alexander and Pena but it just wasn't enough when it came to overall performance. And the directors style....well, it's just so bad that even a freshly film school graduate can make better. And the writing and the script, also so lazy and cheesy. Although the humor is there but because the jokes a recycled from other movies, or pop culture references it's so cliche. The cinematography on the first half is lazy and utterly bad. But there are 2-3 scenes which where really genial, and overall topped the cinematography. But the scenes where edited in such a bad fashion that most of the time the viewer wouldn't know what he's watching, what is happening or what he's looking at. Also the whole movie is tiring because it looks like there are no esthetical transitions. But the sound effect and the visuals where great, even the action scenes, of which there are very few in order to be considered and action movie. Pacing issues are real heavy, here but I already touched this subject from one point of view. The plot is simple as it can get and it's cliche as hell. Overall this a painfully average movie, because the actors somewhat save the movie, and the fact that the few thing the movie did right it did VERY well. So these things save the film from not being below average.… Expand

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NickTheCritick

Aug 21, 2022

This is undoubtely my least favourite John Michael McDonagh's movie. He seems to be too immature here, the timing of the action never fits that much and the script hides a bit. It's not a terrible movie of course but J. M. M. is capable of better works than this.

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