The Oath is a political black comedy that runs as a savage satire of the highest degree for the first 40 minutes.

Revolving around a society where citizens in the U.S. are asked to sign an oath to America, dividing them in half, one man tries to keep things together in a difficult climate.

But at the midway point, the film switches between a circus of mediocrity and the straight-up ludicrous, with a scattershot approach taking place.

Ike Barinholtz, a standout in Blockers, is the director/writer/star here, and he has half an unbelievable commentary here.

It’s a wildly ambitious film that falls just below expectations for success.

What starts as a sharp Trump-era film on the political pulse of America turns into a tangled web of crime and extreme measures.

If there’s one major criticism I can give, the plot points feel like they’re from three films crammed in one.

What’s most distressing is talent like Barinholtz, Tiffany Haddish and John Cho give their all to the material, and all come up short in a film that could have been incredible.

At least Haddish gives a performance here that proves, without a doubt, she is miles past the loud-mouth she played in Girls Trip and Night School. She’s the best thing here.

It’s a shame, because everyone here is so talented. It leaves one wondering what this film could have been had it stayed on track.

2/5 Stars