Let's forget about the fact that this is another remake of a show or movie made back in the 80's in attempts to capitalize on the branding. Everyone bitched about. I've bitched about it plenty in conversations and my last blog. It's going to keep happening whether we want it to or not. Let's get over it.
There had to be something to bringing back "The A-Team" now. Shortly after the press release stating that this movie would be made, two other films were green-lit right after, bearing odd similarities and themes -- last April's "The Losers", which was a comic book adaptation, and this August's "The Expendable", Sylvester Stallone's new film which boasts an action all-star team like no other. While "The Losers" was quite entertaining, you have to give it up for the original, though, after hearing many disparaging remarks, my expectations were quite low. Perhaps that's what made this film so great.
The film opens up to Iraq War veterans Col. Hannibal Smith (Liam Neeson), Cpl Bosco "B.A." Baracus (former UFC fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson), Lt Templeton "Faceman" Peck (Bradley Cooper), and Captain "Howling Mad" Murdock ("District 9"'s Sharlto Copley) meeting in Mexico during a mission gone horribly wrong. 8 years and 80 missions later, they take the fall after a botched job to take back stolen mint printing plates goes awry, leaving their general dead, the man responsible for the botched mission (Brian Bloom, who co-wrote the script) at large.
In comes a man simply known as Lynch (Patrick Wilson), with a plan to break all four of them out of prison to clear their names once and for all. And who's going to stop them? Why, it's Peck's old flame from the CIA, Captain Charisa Sosa (Jessica Biel)! But finding out the truth about who's really pulling the strings is only leading to more questions as our A-Team plans for the impossible.
Director Joe Carnahan ("Smokin' Aces", "Narc"), who co-wrote the movie with Bloom (screenwriting debut) and writer Skip Woods ("X-Men Origins: Wolverine") swung for the fences with this one. Carnahan clearly has a knack for the ridiculous, and pulls it off with a flair of genius in the vain of "Die Hard 4". But where most films skip out on dialogue, Carnahan, Bloom, and Woods come equipped with snappy, comedic dialgoue to pace with the dark tone of the script.
However, aside from the incredible stunt work and special effects, the real gem of the movie is the cast. Neeson, Jackson, Cooper, and Copley work together so well, often playing off each other naturally, making the dialogue smooth, and never leaving a feeling of anything being ungenuine at all. Though Neeson and Cooper hold their own extremely well, Jackson and Copley steal the show entirely. Jackson gives a stellar debut here, and Copley, fresh off the heals of last year's "District 9", displays a surprising aptitude for comedy.
I'm sure if you dig hard enough, you can find plenty of plot holes in the script, and there really isn't much time spent on character development here. But if you're going to see this movie thinking about things like that, you're missing out on one kick-ass movie. I can't think of too many action films grounded completely in reality, but part of the reason why we go to movies is to escape from reality, isn't it? Sure, it's impossible to fly a tank by firing the cannon in certain directions. But isn't it cool to know someone thought "How cool would it be to try and fly a tank?" and then filmed it? Awesome.
FINAL VERDICT: Perhaps not a candidate for next year's Oscar race, "The A-Team" is still one wild ride that should not be missed. With laughs and thrills aplenty, this is definitely one plan that came together well.
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