Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Directed by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
- comedy
- drama
- war
The story
Stuck in a rut, reporter Kim Baker decides to shake things up by leaving her desk job in New York and taking a dangerous assignment in Afghanistan. Far from home and completely out of her comfort zone, a culture-shocked Kim befriends an adventurous reporter Tanya Vanderpoel, a stern Colonel, and a charming photojournalist to help her navigate this crazy new world.
What it’s like
Warm, bright, and brisk, with the dusty ochre of Kabul and Kandahar set against cool fluorescent hotel corridors, rooftop bars strung with string lights, and dim military briefing rooms. The camera stays mobile and conversational, often tight on two talking faces, and cuts quickly between sardonic banter and sudden jolts of danger: a convoy rattling through a checkpoint, a blast that snaps the mood flat before the next joke lands. The score is a loose, upbeat mix of pop and rock that keeps the energy up, and the sound design favors chatter, clinking glasses, and distant traffic over silence. Its tone is wry, self-aware, and sometimes bruising, a workplace comedy that slips into real unease and then climbs back out. Comedy is the dominant register, with a cynical-but-tender arc about a jaded woman finding purpose and friendship in a place she never expected. Violence is present and occasionally sharp, including several explosions and wounded civilians and soldiers, though it's handled briefly and never lingers on gore. Suits a rainy weekend, a lighter evening watch, or a viewer who wants a funny film with real stakes. For people who enjoy journalism-set comedies, female friendships, and war stories told with a sense of humor, not a grim lens.
More films like Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Whiskey Tango Foxtrot and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
