Imagine The Losers in another few decades and you’ve got the measure of this “retired CIA hitters teaming-up for one last job” tale. So if you’ve seen that other recent comic adaptation then you’ll know to expect a solid but unspectacular watch then.
Frank Moses (Bruce Willis – playing to type) is a lonely man, tearing up retirement cheques in an excuse to call up his payroll phone crush Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker). Living a quiet, unassuming, kinda-stalking life, only one thing could shatter his comfortable withdrawal from wider society: a high-tech team of assassins invading his home. He quickly despatches them with minimal fuss.
Hitting the road to discover why his bald head is on the block, Moses kidnaps Sarah (for her safety!) and sets about visiting his old gun-toting muckers Joe (Morgan Freeman – not much to do), Marvin (John Malkovich – on crazy coot form), Ivan (a dodgily accented Brian Cox) and Victoria (Helen Mirren – cast, presumably, purely for the “Queen toting a gun” catch. Which she does and does well). Finding out there’s trouble and corruption at the top connected to an old job, Frank is left with no choice but to step up and sort out the situation himself.
Attempting to be the Ocean’s 11 of hitmen flicks, Red certainly has the right sense of jovial fun but neither the panache nor the class to pull it off. In fact, in light of this apparent aim, it’s fairer to say that Red is actually more the Ocean’s 12 of hitmen flicks, if you will. In light of the excellent looking promos and the promise of Bruce and The Dame kicking-ass and taking names, this is a bit of a disappointment.
A definite case of style over substance, there’s not much going on here other than an excuse for a wacky road trip in which our elderly ensemble get to sporadically stop off and blow stuff up. Which is normally enough for my simple-to-please mind. But despite being a cool, slick and stylish enough watch, there’s unquestionably something missing here.
[etRating value=“ 3”]
Frank Moses (Bruce Willis – playing to type) is a lonely man, tearing up retirement cheques in an excuse to call up his payroll phone crush Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker). Living a quiet, unassuming, kinda-stalking life, only one thing could shatter his comfortable withdrawal from wider society: a high-tech team of assassins invading his home. He quickly despatches them with minimal fuss.
Hitting the road to discover why his bald head is on the block, Moses kidnaps Sarah (for her safety!) and sets about visiting his old gun-toting muckers Joe (Morgan Freeman – not much to do), Marvin (John Malkovich – on crazy coot form), Ivan (a dodgily accented Brian Cox) and Victoria (Helen Mirren – cast, presumably, purely for the “Queen toting a gun” catch. Which she does and does well). Finding out there’s trouble and corruption at the top connected to an old job, Frank is left with no choice but to step up and sort out the situation himself.
Attempting to be the Ocean’s 11 of hitmen flicks, Red certainly has the right sense of jovial fun but neither the panache nor the class to pull it off. In fact, in light of this apparent aim, it’s fairer to say that Red is actually more the Ocean’s 12 of hitmen flicks, if you will. In light of the excellent looking promos and the promise of Bruce and The Dame kicking-ass and taking names, this is a bit of a disappointment.
A definite case of style over substance, there’s not much going on here other than an excuse for a wacky road trip in which our elderly ensemble get to sporadically stop off and blow stuff up. Which is normally enough for my simple-to-please mind. But despite being a cool, slick and stylish enough watch, there’s unquestionably something missing here.
[etRating value=“ 3”]
