All original team members were white, yet the film employed color-blind casting to include Peña and Rhodes in soldier roles, constituting race changes to established historical figures. This is the sole progressive element, as the narrative centers on traditional military heroism, alliance with Afghan Northern Alliance forces against the Taliban, and post-9/11 patriotism without identity politics, systemic critiques, or lectures on gender or race.

Left-leaning critics attacked the film for glorifying 'toxic masculinity' and outdated male heroism, confirming the absence of activist framing in the work itself. The premise and themes remain rooted in historical action conventions rather than contemporary social justice priorities.