"Stop-Loss" stays generally grounded in its story, prioritizing character challenges over identity checklists. Its focus is on the trauma and struggles of returning veterans, not shoehorning forced representation or checklist diversity. Any social messages mostly serve the plot rather than override it, so narrative integrity isn't seriously compromised.

The film critiques aspects of military life and national policy, depicting authority figures and the government's treatment of soldiers in a less-than-flattering light. However, it doesn't broadly attack traditional values like family, religion, or masculinity, instead centering its critique on bureaucratic failings.

While the film clearly takes a stance against the stop-loss policy and is sympathetic toward questioning the war in Iraq, there are glimpses of differing viewpoints among its characters. Alternatives are not robustly explored but aren't completely ridiculed either.