Review: The A-Team Is A Fun, If Dumb, Action Romp
- Jan 3, 2018
- 2 min read
Despite never quite living up to its opening scenes, the cinematic adaptation of the 80’s cheese fest, The A-Team is nothing short of stupid fun.
After uniting in Mexico, Col. Hannibal Smith (Liam Neeson), Face (Bradley Cooper), B.A. Baracus (Quinton “Rampage” Jackson) and Murdock (Sharlto Copley) set themselves up a a highly trained team of specialist undertaking all manner of dangerous missions. But when they find themselves set up for the murder of a US general and framed for the robbery of US mint plates, dishonourably discharged and locked away. But you can’t keep good men down and, after a string of breakouts, the team is back together and out to get whoever ruined their lives.
The A-Team really is a quintessential big dumb action movie. Everyone involved is clearly having fun, it mixes equal parts badass and lunacy, much of which comes from Copley who, in his second role, easily out acts the rest of the cast, even Neeson. He is so far up the wall it seems like he’ll never come down. It often feels like this is his movie, and everyone else is along for the ride.
The plot is pretty dumb but it seems to think it’s smart, throwing in several very predictable “twists” along with dragging on for a bit too long. But watch it for the big dumb explosion-fest that it is, and you’ll have a good time. This isn’t a character movie, it isn’t focused on the big picture. The A-Team instead seeks to entertain, and at this it excels.
While it’s all downhill from the point at which the team is imprisoned, The A-Team never has a dull moment. It’s far from high quality cinema and it doesn’t care. Go big or go home.
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