|
|
The A-Team
Movie Review
July 11, 2010
Directed by Joe Carnahan
Starring Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton 'Rampage'
Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Patrick Wilson, Gerald McRaney, Henry Czerny,
and Brian Bloom.
Backstory
Ah, another favourite TV show from my youth brought to the big screen.
I remember being a wee lad and being able to stay up late on
Saturday nights to watch The A-Team. I think a movie version
was first announced way back in 1996, and I've been following it online
ever since waiting to see if it would come to fruition. Well,
it did, in the summer of 2010. The trailers made it look very
ridiculous...much like the original TV show. Would it match
up with my childhood rememberances?
Plot
In the US Army, one of the best elilte commando units is the Alpha
Squad, or "A-Team" under the command of Col. John "Hannibal" Smith.
His team consists of Templeton "Faceman" Peck, B.A. Baracus,
and "Howling Mad" Murdock. During the war in Iraq, the team
is sent on a secret mission to recover a set of US currency engraving
plates and $1 billion in counterfit American money before the
insurgents can use it. The team is successful, but they are
double-crossed, and man who ordered them on their mission is promptly
killed. With no evidence that they were officially ordered on
their mission, the A-Team is promptly arrested and sent to prison.
But it's not long before they escape and get back together to
answer the key questions: who set them up? Who
really stole the engraving plates? And can they clear their
names?
What I Liked
As you can tell by my plot description, the movie is kind of like a
prequel to the TV show, showing that "crime they didn't commit" always
talked about in the TV show's opening narration, and their first
mission, which was understandably to clear their names. It
also has this spectacular opening sequence that explains how the team
came together. Murdock, my favourite character from the
original show, is just as crazy as ever. And, just like the
original show, there's a great sense of humour, making the whole film
quite funny.
What I
Didn't Like
Aww,
man, we never got to see Hannibal show his trademark mastery of
disguise! Also, the plot does get a lilttle confusing as you
try to keep track of all the nameless suits, renegade agents, and who's
double-crossing who.
Final
Assessment
Completely ridiculous and over the top...and therefore, just like the
original TV show! My inner child was very pleased.
3 Nibs
Comment on this Review
Return to the Movie Reviews
|
|
|
