The Informant!

Impressions before seeing it
Commercials looked funny, and I like Matt Damon as an actor.

How was it?
I love that there is an exclamation point in the title, because it's highly appropriate once you get to know Mark Whitacre (Damon). As an informant, the idea is to go undercover and keep a lot of secrets, but Mark is a guy who likes to talk. A lot. So it only makes sense that an exclamation point illustrate his big mouth. Matt Damon's performance was excellent though - I think he even raised the pitch of his voice a little so that it wouldn't sound quite like him, and I believed him all the way through.

The movie itself was a ton of fun to watch. From the commercials I was under the impression that Mark Whitacre was a moron and that's why it would be funny, but upon watching it I realized he was fairly smart... sometimes. He definitely had some idiot moments, but then everyone does so that just made it more believable. I don't know if I would call The Informant! a comedy, but I would describe it as light, because it doesn't take itself seriously. Especially given the funny voiceovers by Damon full of bizarre stories and facts and tidbits that don't really have anything to do with anything. But again, that's Mark, and he loves to talk. I was also delighted to see a plot twist around the last third of the movie, because I wasn't really expecting one for some reason, so it added to my enjoyment.

Recommendation
I don't think this movie ended up being a huge hit but it should have, because it was so entertaining and fascinating. I don't even think I have any complaints about it. Please check it out if you like the idea of a civilian going undercover for the FBI, with a light and humourous edge.