FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS -- CONTENT REVIEW: THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE

"THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE"
(2011) (Dominic Cooper, Ludvine Sagnier) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: An Iraqi military officer must put up with the out of control actions of Saddam Hussein's son when he's forced to become his body double.

PLOT:

It's the late 1980s and Latif Yahia (DOMINIC COOPER) is an Iraqi officer in the Iran-Iraq war. Due to being a near look-alike to Uday Hussein (DOMINIC COOPER), son of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein (PHILIP QUAST), he's recruited by Munem (RAAD RAWI) to be a body double for Uday. Despite being classmates in the past, Latif isn't friends with Uday and wants no part of this arrangement, but isn't given a choice, especially when his family is threatened with reprisals if he doesn't go along with the plan.

He reluctantly does so, complete with some plastic surgery, the fitting of some false teeth, and lessons in impersonating Uday. His role comes complete with just about anything he could want or desire, including his choice of any women except for those already singled out by Uday as his, including the exotic Sarrab (LUDVINE SAGNIER).

What Latif refuses to impersonate, however, is Uday's excessive behavior, be that his wild partying and related antics, his kidnapping of schools girls for sexual purposes, and especially his murderous ways. The flamboyant but unstable Uday isn't pleased that Latif won't follow his every order, but does him no harm as he needs him for public appearances as well as to be the target for any potential assassination attempt. Uday gets similar preferential treatment from his father who isn't happy with his son's behavior but must keep him due to their family connection.

As the months go by, Latif must contend with being in near constant physical danger, be that from assassins or even Uday himself, all while complicating matters by secretly becoming Sarrab's lover.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Unless they have a particular interest in the story or are fans of someone in the cast, it doesn't seem too likely.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For strong brutal bloody violence and torture, sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and pervasive language.

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