Review: RED

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Genre: Action Comedy
Directed by: Robert Schwentke
Staring: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban, Mary-Louise Parker, Brian Cox, Julian McMahon, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ernest Borgnine, James Remar, Richard Dreyfuss
Released: Oct 15, 2010

THE GENERAL IDEA

Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA’s top agents—but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. The team, along with civilian Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker) in tow, embarks on an impossible cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.

THE GOOD

This movie taps every last bit of entertainment from every scene, rarely missing a line or opportunity for clever amusement.

Anyone thinking that Bruce Willis is “getting old” should watch this movie. He and Karl Urban throw down in one of the best physical fights I have seen in a long time. Better than anything in The Expendables. Willis is intimidating on so many levels but still manages to keep a wit and charm about him. That’s a tough thing to balance.

Malkovich delivers his eccentric crazy in spades and is just a delight to watch. Crazy people look at this character and feel absolutely mainstream. Seriously. I couldn’t stop smiling everytime he opens his mouth. And that stuffed pig? Honestly, my favourite parts of the movie were with Malkovich’s Marvin.

Mary Louise Parker is every bit as deserving of the attention she gets in this movie, and bringing in this civilian might seem pointless, but its not, and she works so well.

And the plot of the film works. In a light comedic action, there is a seriousness that manages to also make its presence known. And it is punctuated beautifully by the score.

THE BAD

Morgan Freeman was kind of wasted in this. He is much like the others by circumstance, but doesn’t bring anything unique to the table. He is just kind of there. This was one of the few misses in the film, and considering Freeman’s presence, thats a big thing to leave out.

The action is a little mislabelled, and while there is a lot of it, it too is done in a light tone that takes away the graphic seriousness of someone being mowed in half with a firearm, but still delivers amusement. I was anticipating some Expendables action, and in moments it delivers (Willis vs Urban) but for the most part this is a comedy that borders on RomCom for Willis.

OVERALL

A LOT of fun at the theater, smiles all over for the light tone and amusement. I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t balls out action, but only a little. And wasting Morgan Freeman is a crime.

I give RED a 8 out of 10