There’s nothing that helps a viewer emotionally connect to a character better than witnessing the death of his father in a car bomb.

This tragic event in 1978 sets up young Samir Horn (Don Cheadle) for a life of violence. Fast forward to present day Yemen where the story begins.

This film did everything a movie should. I was entertained, stayed awake and even jumped a time or two. As the movie progressed I learned more and more about what had happened in the past 30 years. Samir’s life is not the same life as you and I have lived. Selling explosives on the black market to terrorist isn’t what most of us have in mind for a career but its what Samir decided to do.

The entire movie is filled with twists and turns but not as many as I would have guessed from a movie like this. The movie throws a curve ball. In jail, Samir meets Omar who has strong ties with a prominent terrorist group. Samir believes he will be in for quite sometime, but a bombing and exchange of gunfire leaves a window long enough for 6 key prisoners to escape.

The phrase “for the greater good” comes to mind during this film. The film demands viewers to ask themselves, “how far will you to do what you think is right?” Some of the plot comes off a bit stereotypical of how Americans feel about religions they aren’t familiar with.

After being commissioned to bomb an American embassy, Samir’s next job is to hit American soil for the real deal. With FBI agents watching Samir is careful to conceal his identity.

This movie was the inspiration of funny man, Steve Martin, which is quite a change of pace for what we have seen come out of him before. He must have given it his good luck blessing because it was not a disappointment.

BOTTOM LINE: Good flick, entertaining but it would probably be just as good from the comfort of your own home.