June 07, 2010 
by Molly Blake
Service members who watch war-themed movie often wince at glaring inaccuracies like uniform gaffes and military terminology faux pas. Thankfully "The Dry Land" is mostly cringe-free as it chronicles the almost immediate struggle that a soldier, played by Ryan O'Nan, faces upon returning from a tour in Iraq and the ensuing consequences that vex his family and friends.
America Ferrera of Ugly Betty fame plays O'Nan's wife Sara, who welcomes her soldier home to their bleak El Paso existence with initial cheeriness. Her relief that he is home dissolves away into fear and confusion as James stumbles through his post-war life.
In an attempt to find normalcy, James takes a job at Sara's father's meat-packing plant - a big mistake - as are the multiple visits to bars and the loaded gun neatly packed in his closet. Jason Ritter, who plays hometown pal Michael, wonderfully portrays the civilian character unsure of how to help his friend navigate life in their small, dusty town.
Despondent from his inability to remember any details about a violent attack on his vehicle while in Iraq, James eventually heads to Walter Reed Medical Center to track down an Army buddy injured in the encounter. Along the way, we meet Raymond, played by Wilmer Valderrama, a fellow soldier, wayward and jobless, who joins James on his road trip.
Viewers are given no details about the length of his deployment or his Army job (is he a sniper, gunner or what?). Similarly, Sara makes no mention of the other wives or unit family support programs. The audience is left to believe that she whittled away the deployment months alone in her trailer sans family days, unit activities, or even a girl's night out.
Sadly, families, particularly guard and reserve, can be isolated from the military support structure but spouses are rarely left in such seclusion. Civilians don't understand the military lifestyle as it is and this film does nothing to extol the behind-the-scenes work that countless command spouses, family readiness officers and unit leaders do daily to champion fellow military spouses, children and parents. Thankfully, the film steers clear of politics, war posturing and prose.
The time frame, too, is a mystery. When James takes off to see a doctor following yet another bar fight, there's no electronic leash. Surely cell phones are available in Texas and have been for some time. Sara and James are seemingly cut off, physically and emotionally from everything and everyone as they deal with the fallout from his traumatic deployment to Iraq.
Piers Williams' inspiration for the film stemmed from an article he read about a soldier suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He penned the script during two years of research. During a question and answer after the film's DC premiere, Piers Williams spoke of the impact the soldiers' story had on him and his hopes for a more in depth conversation about the war's affect on our service men and women. This is both admirable and important and the general audience will likely take away a deeper appreciation for our men and women in uniform and their families.
"It's going to take a few more films like this to show how next door it is," said actor Wilmer Valderrama who plays Army buddy Raymond.
"The Dry Land" is a Maya Entertainment presentation in association with Take Fountain Productions and Besito Films. Produced by Heather Rae. Executive producers, Sergio Aguero, America Ferrera. Co-producer, Jason Michael Berman, Margo Johnston, Mark G. Mathis. Directed, written by Ryan Piers Williams.
"The Dry Land" hits theaters in August.