Reviewing the A-Team movie is not an easy task. I loved the show when I was a kid (and still do), but it's not like it was a good show. The plot of the film is mostly inconsequential, the A-Team are awesome badasses who get framed for a crime they didn't commit, they go to jail, they break out, they try to clear their names and many things explode in the process. I've read a few reviews that criticize the movie for its outlandish action scenes and set-pieces, which is ridiculous considering the source material. Other than the unfortunate speed freak editing style, the movie is entertaining, the crowd I saw it with certainly enjoyed it. However, if your favorite member of the A-Team was the van, you will be disappointed.Rating: 75%
(Image from flicksandbits.com)
Posts
8 comments:
You are on a movie review roll Quammy.
I thought A-Team was pretty good. It's not like I went in expecting deep story or anything. I thought it would be a middling action movie, and was surprised to find it a lot of fun.
I liked the show, but I was disappointed to the point of disgust with the film. Faceman was a thirtysomething frat douche instead of a charming ladies' man (Jon Hamm, who was in the movie for all of 10 seconds, would've been a better pick). Mr. T's conflict over pacifism was forced and insincere, and the food bribe running gag was retarded and borderline racist. The plot should have been a simple, silly vehicle for mayhem and explosions, but instead was more convoluted than a fucking Boltzmann equation, despite its utter frivolity. But what really irked me was the tone and characterization: instead of a group of cheerful, light hearted, self-possessed good guys who break the law in the name of doing the right thing, the film depicts a bunch of, whining, squabbling, morally ambiguous anti-heroes whose dialogue alternates between smug-ironic cockiness and petty ego driven insecurity, all while racking up a body count worthy of Dachau.
I'm no film snob, but I thought The A Team was a dumb, tasteless piece of shit.
OK, I'm an everything snob. But still.
@ Internet John
You described the A-Team as "a group of cheerful, light hearted, self-possessed good guys who break the law in the name of doing the right thing," but that's not entirely true. The A-Team weren't a bunch of Kwai Chang Caines running around helping people, they were mercenaries who got paid to do what they did. The last line in the show's intro was "if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team." Sure, they never turned anyone down and sometimes they even did the work pro bono but they were hardly altruistic.
Also, it's a fucking A-Team movie, you've already thought way too long and hard about it.
There's a difference between light entertainment and shitty "entertainment," but I'll try to include unicorns and handjobs under the rainbow in my next comment.
@ Internet John
I guess a lot of it comes down to expectations. I went into the movie with very low expectations, so I wasn't too disappointed with the end result. I don't think I've seen a particularly good North American-made action movie in the last ten years, so when I got to one I usually go in with pre-lowered expectations.
And since they don't make too many movies anymore for people with discerning taste, sometimes you just have to turn your brain off for two hours. I know I don't have to tell you that taste is entirely subjective. Your Depeche Mode is my Devo, etc.
Also, Bruce Lee Unicorn Volcano = awesome.
Your mom has low expectations.
Sherlock Holmes wasn't an especially good movie, but the script was witty and lively. Most of the lines in The A Team don't serve plot or characterization at all, and the result is something like a cross between bad fanfic and video game dialogue.
Even the explosions looked shitty, like fireworks at a David Copperfield show. Fail, fail, fail.
Post a Comment