Zero Motivation (2014) / Comedy-Drama

MPAA Rated: Not rated, but would definitely be R for graphic nudity, sexuality, some violent content, and language
Running time: 97 min.

Cast: Dana Ivgy, Nelly Tagar, Shani Klein, Tamara Klingon, Heli Twito, Meytal Gal, Yonit Tobi
Director: Talya Lavie
Screenplay: Talya Lavie
Review published March 11, 2015

Zero Motivation fits in with so many of the popular workplace comedies in film and television, except that this one is set within an Israeli Defense Forces army base inhabited by, among others, an all-girl squad of administrative soldiers.  It's a film that works as a whole, but told in three connected sequential vignettes, "The Replacement", "The Virgin", and "The COmmander".

The film opens with Daffi (Tagar, Tied Hands) and Zohar (Ivgy, Or (My Treasure)) belatedly going back to their base, albeit with strong reluctance, since their days and nights frequently consist of performing whatever menial tasks their commander Rama (Klein) doles out.  A new recruit, Tehila (Tobi), enters the scene, which Daffi, who has been busy petitioning a relocation to Tel Aviv, thinks means her wishes to escape her hellishly boring existence have finally been granted.  Meanwhile, Zohar doesn't really want to continue military life without her partner in crime, and is teased mercilessly by the fellow ladies regarding her lack of experience with the opposite sex.

This slacker military comedy has zany shades of "M*A*S*H" mixed with Stripes, and a dash of the more serious malaise-inspired underpinnings of Jarhead.  It does separate itself from those films, however, by being astutely understanding about the female dynamic of its characters and their interrelations.  Drawing loosely upon her own experiences serving in the IDF, first time feature writer-director Talya Lavie's darkly comic film, which expands her own short (The Substitute) from 2006, explores the less-than-serious nature of misfits in the military, who end up not caring about their mandatory national duties, or even how they're perceived, willing to go to prison or get discharged than conform.

Lavie does a terrific job in handling the variety of personalities, spotlighting what's necessary for the story, but doing so in a well-rounded fashion that allows us to sympathize with the characters, even when they engage in selfish acts of wanton buffoonery.  Even if they dishonor their uniform by perpetually finding ways to get away with doing nothing, they aren't so apathetic when it comes to their leisure.  Such things as the staple gun, which is the only thing they feel adequately keeps notices on the walls, are hidden and locked away, with the girls claiming they'd rather suffer torture than to give up their whereabouts.  And then there's the all-important computer games, with Minesweeper being the crowning jewel.  Zohar and Daffi may have deeply ingrained toward performing tasks around the base, but threaten to erase the high scores they've spent so much of their free time to achieve and prepare to be fought tooth and nail (and staple). 

Zero Motivation feels more like three episodes of a military comedy (with dark overtones) than it does a full-fledged movie, but it's not a bad one at all.  With some really engaging performances, smart writing, good direction, and a fantastic musical score to punctuate the mood, Lavie's film may seem like a TV-ready concept, but that's not meant as a slight -- it would be a show worth watching.

Qwipster's rating:

©2015 Vince Leo