Any concerns I may have about getting older (It's hard to phathom that I've lived for three decades now) are alleviated while watching a film like RED. I took great pleasure in seeing guys still twice my age up on the big screen continuing to kick ass and take names. Based off of a graphic novel, RED stars Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich as a group of black-ops agents who are now 'retired, but extremely dangerous'. The quartet is rounded back up together after the government tries to assassinate them.
That's really all you need to know about this film. The film makes a half-hearted attempt to provide some reasons as to why they are being hunted, but it's really inconsequential in a film like this. If you find the concept of old people furiously shooting guns and blowing stuff up, you're in for fun ride and if you don't well then you're probably more of a curmudgeon than anyone in the film.
RED offers up several big action sequences, both in the hand-to-hand and weaponry variety. Nothing about them is particularly noteworthy, but they're all successful at keeping you entertained. Of course, Bruce Willis still knows how to craft an effective fistfight, as well as properly shoot a gun. Like riding a bike, Willis knows exactly how to get right back into John McClain mode.
As for the rest of the primary cast they each bring something fun to the table. Malkovich finds a new variety of crazy to display here that is equally infuriating to both his enemies and his allies. He's like Fringe's Walter Bishop if he had better access to explosives. Mirren seems to relish in being able to blend sophistication and savagery. It's a shame her mainstream success is coming so late in her career because she has consistently shown she performs well in both popcorn and art house fare. And then you have Morgan Freeman who manages to add gravitas to any film, no matter how large of a role he plays in it. While his character doesn't offer up the same flash as the others, he does enough to make you know he's just as dangerous as the rest of them.
What's nice about this film is that they still find time to let their supporting cast shine as well. Veteran actors like Ernest Borgenine, Brian Cox (who ends up having a larger role than I expected), and Richard Dreyfus all show up and add some excitement to the story. Speaking of Dreyfus, where has he been for practically the last decade? I was so happy to see him back here hamming it up and I hope it's an indication that he'll be taking on more work again in the future.
But before you think that the cast only consists of people with their AARP card, fear not. Balancing out the age factor are Mary Louise Parker, who unknowingly gets caught up in this gunfight, as well as becomes a potential love interest for Willis' character. You also have Karl Urban (who made a name for himself last year playing Bones in the Star Trek reboot) plays foil to the old codgers as the FBI agent trying to bring them in. A role like this will mostly get overshadowed by his bigger name co-stars, but will also help him land larger roles in the future. I liked his work here and expect more from him down the road.
They say that spoof films are critic proof, because they never have any artistic merit; it just comes down to whether or not you laughed. Well RED is pretty much the action equivalent to the spoof film. It's not really fair to grade the film based on the acting or artistic direction. This is just a pumped action film that wants to take you on a ride. If you're willing to hop on, then you're in for a good time. For me, the film worked in spades. It provided a nice balance of action and comedy and never was dull.
A film like RED attempts to spit in the face of those who claim there are no good roles for anyone over the age of 55. Here, you have a number of actors, mostly playing against type, who are willing to show they still have what it takes. I'll gladly take this over any the garbage that Jason Statham or Gerard Butler tries to offer these days. Anyone can fire a gun, but its takes a special kind of person to make it look this much fun. Grade: B
No comments:
Post a Comment