‘Overlord’ Is an Overload of Explosions and Noise

Michael Amundsen

With a mix of World War II, action and horror, “Overlord” is a straightforward genre movie. If you’re looking for an understanding of D-Day, something inspirational that explores the sacrifices or the strategies of the men who fought it, something along the lines of “Saving Private Ryan,” then look elsewhere. “Overload” is in full thrust, plot-wise, with no time for back-story, nuance or historical accuracy. But if you give your brain a rest, it can be a lot of fun.

The story pulls from a number of influences. At least initially, it resembles a “Saving Private Ryan” in the air. The focus is on Boyce (Jovan Adepo), a black paratrooper taking acting inspiration from Tom Hanks. His hands shake. His brow sweats. And who can blame him. In front of him, Tibbet (John Magaro), the requisite loud-mouthed Italian guy from the Bronx (or Brooklyn), smarts off about the odds of dying in a bomber as opposed to a landing craft. To the right of Boyce sits Rosenfeld (Domenic Applewhite), the skinny nerd who somehow ended up a paratrooper.

As the corn-fed midwestern boy, there is Chase (Ian De Caestecker) taking photos of a taciturn, war hardened Corporal Ford (Wyatt Russell). Aloof and alone, Ford forcefully ends the photo session. Ford has been chosen to lead this squad in a mission to destroy a vital Nazi communications tower, and he is not to be messed with.

But Boyce is the main character. He’s the big-hearted innocent, not built for combat. He’s the war movie stereotype who steps forward to save enemy prisoners or citizens with the argument that we are Americans and better than the enemy, even though it puts the mission in danger and gets his fellow soldiers killed.

The nighttime flight into the drop zone, though historically questionable, is exciting. The multitude of bombers above and warships below is impressive. It helps to put the massive endeavor that was D-Day into proper context. Director Julius Avery works hard to give his audience the visceral experience of combat as felt by the young paratroopers about to experience their first jump in actual battle. But with fire everywhere and Allied bombers blowing up mere yards from Boyce’s own craft, it becomes both claustrophobic and over the top. So many planes are going down, and they all look alike. It’s difficult to know which one is Boyce’s.

With luck, Boyce makes it safely to the ground and reconnoiters with Ford, Tibbet and Chase. Under Ford’s leadership, they make their way to the tower, thanks to guidance from a bitter local French woman, Chloe (Mathilde Ollivier).

It isn’t long before our boys learn that their mission is more complicated than it expected. The tower sits in a heavily fortified compound called the “Church.” As expected, they are outnumbered and outgunned. What they didn’t expect was the Nazi horrors going on within the compound. In real life, Nazis doctors and physicists performed a multitude of life threatening experiments on unwilling prisoners. But they pale compared to the movie abominations taking place in the “Church.” Nazis are always good for straight out villainy and sadistic fanaticism. In “Overlord,” there is no holding back as the dead rise, contort and eat people.

Though not particularly original, the soldiers and their French allies are appealing. They all show heart, nothing you haven’t seen before but cinematically earnest. The main villain is the German officer Wafner. As played by Danish actor Pilou Asbæk, he is big, evil and indomitable.

The film moves too fast to be able to spend much time pondering the many clichés and massive plot holes that fill the story.

Every generation redefines the parameters of each genre, whether it be westerns, sci-fi, horror or war movies, they all get redefined by the social conventions of the time in which they are made. The squadron in “Overlord” is integrated, something that didn’t happen until President Truman gave the order in 1948. Is it an indication of present day audience expectations or does it count as rewriting history? Or is it a silly to even ask the question of something so obviously designed to entertain?

“Overlord” is B movie entertainment, fast, violent and overwhelming. And it has heart. On that level, it is a fun ride.

“Overlord” opens Nov. 9 in theaters nationwide.