With the nation fighting a war in Afghanistan, the military-political thriller “”Behind Enemy Lines”” hopes to ride the patriotic fever that has swept the nation. The film actually has some relevance to today’s headlines because it tries to address not only heroism but also America’s military role in the world.

The film has ties to San Diego because some indoor shots were filmed aboard the U.S.S. Constellation, which is docked in San Diego. In addition, the film’s world premiere was shown at the North Island Naval Air Station to a crowd of military troops.

Unfortunately, the film is more of a farce than a gripping story because attempts at a credible and intelligent plot fall faster than the Taliban front lines.

This is yet another Hollywood-driven movie that pulls at our strings but does nothing more.

The story follows pilot Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson), who is disillusioned when global politics interfere with what he knows best: flying. A fragile peace treaty in Bosnia forces Admiral Reigart (Gene Hackman) to balance flying fighter missions and ensuring peace. On a reconnaissance flight, Burnett photographs illegal ground activities and is shot down.

Reigart becomes Burnett’s motivator and coach as Burnett must elude troops that are hunting him down. Complicating matters is the fact that tensions are running high among Bosnian groups, making what would be a simple search-and-rescue trip nearly impossible.

The pace of the film seems to drag on as Burnett gets out of tight situations and nothing more. The conclusion of the film is so absurd it seems like something straight out of “”Rambo III.””

This film is John Moore’s directorial debut, and although some scenes are superbly edited with quick cuts, one can easily see that he is a rookie with an all-star ensemble. With talents like Wilson and Hackman, this should have been a great action film.

Wilson is never believable as a pilot; his ramblings make him seem more like a new cadet than a seasoned flyer. In addition, Wilson attempts comedy that doesn’t quite fit in a military film.

“”Behind Enemy Lines”” isn’t a new career move for Wilson or an attempt at drama. And it’s obvious because his performance doesn’t have the charms of “”Shanghai Noon”” or “”Meet the Parents.””

“”It was great working with Hackman,”” Wilson said. “”It was a chance to play with Hackman more than a move.””

What could have been a complex film falls quickly apart as it follows old, formulaic plots. The true heroes of today are the men and women fighting and risking their lives for their nation. This film doesn’t honor them — it makes them another Hollywood prop.