Film of the Month: The A-Team
Despite the promising trailers, I had low expectations. As a kid, I loved the eighties TV show, but there's no denying the source material is somewhat lacking in substance. However, I'm delighted to report this is a decent summer blockbuster and a reasonable reworking of a trashy concept.
The cast make it work. Well, actually 3/4 of the cast make it work. Let's skip over Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson who can't act and fails to bring anything to the role of B.A. Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper are perfect as Hannibal and Face respectively. And Sharlto Copley steals the show as Murdoch. I'd say his performance is worthy of a Best Supporting Actor award, but this isn't the kind of film that members of academies vote for.
This is "shift brain into neutral" entertainment. It's all about the action and there some insane, inspired set pieces - including a dogfight over Germany involving two drones and a flying tank. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it works!
So, here are my principle issues with the movie (aside from Mr Jackson nearly ruining the whole thing): The plot is a load of old nonsense; there are constant flashbacks to remind the idiots in the audience who's who and what's going on; and the first act (showing how the four members of the team first met) is unnecessary. I knew the movie would focus on how this crack commando unit, convicted by a military court for a crime they didn't commit, became soldiers of fortune, but I didn't need the extra exposition of the group's basic origins.
To end on a positive note, the satirical depiction of how the CIA operates abroad is comedy gold and Patrick Wilson is almost as deserving of an award as Sharlto Copley for his depiction of the mysterious Agent Lynch.
