Thank You for Your Service

Thank You For Your Service is one of those perfectly formidable films about PTSD, but it's also nothing I haven't seen in other films. So while it's undeniably well-made and well-acted, it's tough overly praise something that I have ultimately seen before.

The film follows 3 soldiers, just returning home from Iraq, as they struggle emotionally to re-introduce themselves to the family they haven't seen in months, or even years. Starring Miles Teller, Joe Cole, and Beulah Koale as close friends/soldiers who are looking for a way to cope with PTSD as the events in Irag haunt them through their day-to-day life. Much like most war films, there are some haunting images and scenes that are shown throughout 'Thank You For Your Service', and actually the film plays better as a heads-up to be aware of the troubles that Veterans go through after war. So I guess in that way, this story may have been better served as a documentary feature.

In narrative form, there are some great performances and visually stunning scenes, however it's mostly a slow building and grueling experience emotionally and physically for these characters. Speaking of performances, there is one particular actress who just feels completely out of place in this film. It's not necessarily fair for me to call her out of place, because she actually gives a fine performance, but I'm just not used to her playing someone who should be taken seriously. That actress is Amy Schumer. Again, it's not a bad performance but I just found myself wondering how those scenes would have played out with a different actress.

Thank You For Your Service is a good example of a film which I'm glad was made, but it's not an absolutely necessary film to watch. It's a nice reminder though to think about all of the Veterans of war who are constantly looking for help post-war time. In that regard, it's a well-strung together film.

7.0/10