Surprisingly, despite being widely considered a classic must-watch, Billy Bob Thornton‘s 2016 war-dramedy Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a rather polarizing film. That said, with comedy legend Tina Fey and, at the time, emerging starlet Margot Robbie at the helm, it’s hard to imagine why. It’s a classic odd-couple pairing, following Fey’s Kim Baker, a mild-mannered, bottom-shelf news outlet reporter, and Robbie’s Tanya Venderpoel, a fierce foreign TV war correspondent. The two stumble into one another when, struck by the desire to be a real boots-on-the-ground journalist, Kim takes up a station in Kabul, Afghanistan. The supporting cast, including Billy Bob Thornton as a rough-around-the-edges marine general and Martin Freeman as a hard-drinking Scottish photographer, help round the film, and in some way defines its charm.
Notably, the film is loosely adapted from Kim Baker‘s memoir, The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Fey’s character portraying a fictionalized version of the actual journalist. Similar to the film, the novel is a candid, comedic dissection of the post-9/11 “forgotten war”, as told through the eyes of a journalist who was present there. Fey’s portrayal of the character is quippy yet grounded in her undying pursuit of journalistic greatness.
Tina Fey Takes on a Dramatic Role in ‘Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’
There’s no doubt Tina Fey is a comedy legend. She has a stacked repertoire of both acting and writing props to back it up. From Mean Girls to Baby Mama, watching Fey truly command a scene with such effortlessness is a never-ending pleasure. With that being said, her role as Kim Baker allowed audiences to see a new angle on her capabilities. Her character is in a vulnerable position, both internally and externally. She’s essentially a half-failed journalist, putting her career and life on the line, completely dependent on her counterpart, Tanya Venderpoel. Fey’s portrayal of this vulnerability, as well as her cohesion with Venderpoel, was wonderfully and warmly executed.
Kim arrives in a chaotic, male-dominated war zone and is quickly thrust into a world of intensive work, high-risk reporting, and heavy partying. Something in particular that this film captures well is the deep bond between women in a male space. Tanya’s entrance into the film is disarming in some way, especially when juxtaposed next to Thornton’s General Walter Hollanek, who initially intimates Baker but eventually develops a begrudging respect for her. The depth of Baker’s experiences doesn’t stop there. As she grows comfortable in this space of danger and risk, she eventually finds herself hooked on the high. This forces her to confront not only what she wants out of her career, but also her life. Fey’s portrayal of this internal battle is refreshing next to her typically comedic roles.
Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman Shine in ‘Whiskey Tango Fox Trot’
As stated prior, the supporting cast provided an astounding cushion of extra depth to the foundation of the film. Thornton’s character, in particular, added extra motivation not only for Baker but also for the plot itself. His role fills the typical brooding mentor trope, which makes his eventual softening all the more satisfying. In a conversation with Kim, she asks for a quote about the war and the current state of combat. Hollanek replies with a sobering thought: “This war’s like f**king a gorilla; you keep on going until the gorilla wants to stop.” At that moment, he sees Baker as an inexperienced nuisance. Over time, their dynamic shifts as Kim keeps proving her grit, leading to a pinnacle moment when she uses her skills to lead a large-scale rescue mission.
Martin Freeman’s Lain MacKelpie is exactly the opposite. He’s a warm, charming, romantic-leaning colleague to Kim. His character provides a lightness to the plot which is otherwise pretty gritty. Together, their scenes break up the chaos and provide a dynamic pace to the story. He’s a wisecracking, heavy-drinking guy, and as the two grow closer, he becomes incredibly lovable as a character. Overall, each of the respective supporting characters helps build the story into what it is.
In summary, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a thrilling, bumpy ride. Each moving part of the film breathes so much life into the story. Though it at times relies on cliché tropes, the expert performances from Fey, Freeman, Robbie, and Thornton helped differentiate it from the masses. It’s gritty, fun, and a wonderful combination of the best of each genre it pulled from.
