War Machine
Action, Aliens and Alan Ritchson... oh yeah
9 Mar 2026 
Russ Matthews There are various branches of the world’s armies that have elite forces trained to go above and beyond the norm in military situations. The US Army Rangers are among these celebrated soldiers who have been depicted in cinema over the years. In War Machine, writer/director Patrick Hughes (The Hitman’s Bodyguard) pushes their limits as they face an unexpected alien attack.
Alan Ritchson (Reacher) plays an unnamed Staff Sergeant, a decorated soldier who carries a grievous past into the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program of the 75th Ranger Regiment. He remains alienated from the rest of his squad as he sets an exceptionally high bar for the training regime. Despite opposition from leadership, the effects of PTSD, and grumblings within the ranks, the war hero pushes his way toward the program’s final test.
During an excursion into the frontier for a recovery assignment, the team encounters an unidentified object that turns out to be an alien war machine determined to eliminate this band of fighters. The race is on for the Rangers to escape and thwart the deadly object before it reaches the general population—if they survive the chase.
Since his emergence as Jack Reacher, Alan Ritchson has proven himself capable of carrying a production on his shoulders. Even with heavy hitters like Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, and Jai Courtney supporting him on this personal journey of redemption, Patrick Hughes’ film ultimately belongs to Ritchson. An actor who has demonstrated his ability to handle both the physical demands and dialogue-driven storytelling in previous roles, this film relies largely on his sheer physical presence and strength. His performance helps compensate for some of the weaker elements of the script as the story and its lead actor push forward to carry the movie across the line.
War Machine benefits from the lush landscapes of Australia and a pacing that may prove as exhausting for the audience as it must have been for the cast. Action, aliens, and Alan Ritchson make for an appealing combination for viewers looking for pure, bombastic, adrenaline-pumping entertainment. Does it break new ground in cinema? No. But it does offer a dose of mindless adventure for those wanting to escape into the wilderness and engage in a battle with aliens for a while.
Reel Dialogue: Battling through the concept of brotherly love
How do you explain the connection between brothers? War Machine offers a story of redemption that taps into the deep and often inexplicable connection between men. As the film unfolds, it hints at something that can only truly be understood through experience—boys growing into men and the bonds they form along the way.
The Staff Sergeant’s relationship with his brother captures this bond without needing many words. A bit of teasing, wrestling, and unquestionable devotion between the men shows their commitment to one another despite the challenges of war and the struggle of facing the past. Brotherly love and these bonds remain one of the unique aspects of the human condition.
There is a reason Jesus used the language of brotherhood to describe the relationships among his disciples. When someone becomes a follower of Christ, they are welcomed into a family of brothers and sisters. This brotherhood is meant to foster relationships built on forgiveness, sacrifice, and genuine love for one another.
Bible References
Hebrews 2:11–12 “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, ‘I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."
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