Remakes of 80's TV series are the current trend in Hollywood. You may think that the idea stinks, or even lacks of creativity, but it has potentials to get lots of bucks. And apart from it, it's kinda guilty pleasure thing to see a fresh and updated TV series remade into the big screen. In short, the remakes are the reminder of things past.
This year, the A-Team maybe the biggest TV remake you can get. With big stars like Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, and Jessica Biel, it's a mouth watering prospect that this can work well altogether. Joe Carnahan sits at the director seat, and I really like his previous work, 'Narc' back in 2002, and although it looked all around stupid, 'Smoking Aces' had delivered something fresh.
If you were young enough to remember, the A-Team is a story about a band of outlaw mercenaries, ex-Rangers, who were branded as war criminals of a crime they didn't commit. Afterwards, they become soldiers of fortune, acted on the side of good and those who are helpless. The group comprises 4 members, with each has distinguished outlook, skills, ability, and not to mention silly attitude. No plan B and they get the job done.... ridiculously.
Without altering the main concept, the 2010 version is expected to be a big hit, with over the top action scenes (or I can say, brainless) packed within 120 minutes running time. Meet Hannibal (Neeson), Facepack (Cooper), Murdock (Copley), and B.A (UFC winner, 'Rampage' Jackson). After disastrous mission at Iraq to recover money plate, the whole A-Team member was put into trial and ends up in prison. Realizing the whole mission was a setup sprung by other mercenaries, they got helped from FBI agent, Lynch (Patrick Wilson), to escape from prison, and to retrieve back the money plates, before they are going to be used by terrorist countries. A DOD agent, Charisa (Jessica Biel), who has history with Facepack, is given task to track all the A-Team members. Unfortunately, things don't go as smooth as predicted, since they end up with unexpected encounter which reminds them why the were back stabbed in the beginning.
I'm always a big fan of action movies, no matter how brainless it can be sometimes. Most of the times, good action movies tend to follow the era. This fun action reboot brings the quartet of soldier for hire into the digital era, and in a way, Carnahan did a pretty good job since he didn't let technology overcomes personality. To be frank, the story line was predictable, and the only thing that sells is the brainless and sometimes meaningless action scenes. You won't find anything serious, since the Carnahan put the fun tone in every scene. Watching this flick is kinda Ocean's Eleven with big guns and a tank falls down from the sky and shooting airplanes.
'A' is for action, not for acting though. From all the cast, I enjoy every time Murdock comes out, since his lines are pretty funny and laughable. On the other hand, I feel new B.A is kinda like sissy and 'laughable' also (in a wrong way), compared with its predecessor Mr. T. Big body with lesser attitude, doesn't work at all. Neeson is a perfect cast for the team leader, and Cooper is a bit lousy and noisy altogether. And for the hottie, I must say Jessica Biel was cast only for screen refresher (FYI, she's the only female cast), since she didn't do much, where her character most of the time only catch wind and smooch Facepack.
But really, for this kind of movie, the whole package is enough. Although I smell lots of commercialism, the movie turns out to be enjoyable for most part. After watching so many remakes and reboots, the lesson learned is not to take it seriously, and lower down your expectations. Not to be harsh, I see this whole macho fantasia as a disposable fun, a great summer action-comedy, where the Action is the Comedy. Finally, after a dull summer period, the A-Team just ignite the fire with its first action packed thrills of the year. But keep in mind though, it's dumb, noisy and relentlessly violent ... did you expect anything different?
My Rating : 7/10
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