Rating:  

Di Bonaventura Pictures, DC Entertainment, and Summit Entertainment.

Written by: Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber, adapted from the graphic novel series, “RED”, written by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner.

Those who go to movies to simply be entertained will love “RED”, a fun and winning action/comedy from director Robert Schwentke. Featuring an all-star cast of four Oscar winning actors and other acclaimed actors, “RED” may first appear to be stunt casting to the highest degree but is ultimately a well-written and well-paced movie that will surprise you with how engaging it truly is.

“RED”, an anagram for “Retired, Extremely Dangerous”, tells the story of Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), a lonely and retired CIA agent, who lives a quiet life. He awakes a minute ahead of his alarm, exercises, waves to his neighbors, takes out the trash, and grabs his mail. When his Social Security check arrives, he uses it as an opportunity to call his case worker, Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker). Sometimes he tears up the check and informs Sarah that the check has not arrived. Other times he calls just to chat. Sarah and Frank have a series of friendly interactions which provide a connection for Frank he sorely misses and a break for Sarah from the mundane call center job she loathes. In one conversation, Frank indicates that he will be in Kansas City, where Sarah lives and works, and they agree to go to dinner when he gets into town.

That evening, Frank awakes and survives a ridiculous in-house attack by a well-armed cadre of assassins. Springing from his destroyed house with a bag of money and a fake ID, Frank heads out to Kansas City and waits in Sarah’s apartment. Sarah’s arrival home and discovery of a stranger in her apartment is rather shocking and she naturally flips out. Soon, however, Frank explains to Sarah that “people” want them dead and attempts to reason with her that they need to “go”.

Frank and Sarah head out to a New Orleans retirement facility and finds 80-year old Joe (Morgan Freeman). Joe is battling Stage 4 liver cancer but is as spunky and feisty as ever, and Frank convinces Joe to help him find out who wants him dead. Soon, Joe disappears, and Frank, dragging Sarah along every step of the way, recruits Marvin (John Malkovich) and eventually, Victoria (Helen Mirren), to help him stay alive. We learn that Frank has been branded as a CIA Agent gone bad and orders have been given to take him out. Naturally, everyone associated with Frank must also be taken out and the amalgam of retirees seek out to save Frank, themselves, and expose a potential corruption from the top of the federal government.

While “RED” appears gimmicky, and I suppose by design it is, the film is very well made and worth every moment invested in it. Bruce Willis settles into his role well as a man who is having fun again, going on one last adventure, even if this may ultimately be the most risky situation he has ever faced. As a matter of fact, each main performance is pitch-perfect. Morgan Freeman nails his performance as the elderly, endearing, and slightly lecherous Joe. John Malkovich is crazed and very funny as Marvin, a drug-addled retiree who could pop off, and often does, at any moment. Helen Mirren is great as Victoria, the mansion-dwelling retiree who on occasion takes a job here and there – you know, to kill off her boredom. When you add in character actor Bryan Cox, additional Oscar winners Richard Dreyfuss and 93-year old Ernest Borgnine, and Mary-Louise Parker’s solid performance as Sarah, there’s just very little to dislike about “RED”.

The Guatemalan/federal government corruption subplot, which ties all of these characters and these events together, is a bit of a stretch. But at the end of the day, this is an action-adventure film with a group of actors having a fantastic time. The action is shot well, the comedy is on point, and the overall feel and pace of the movie provides for a movie that will hopefully do well and usher in a sequel. “RED” is a summer movie, dropped into the fall, with four Academy Award winners embracing and loving their over-the-top movie and its engagingly silly premise. Their fun is infectious, leaving “RED” as a pleasant surprise.

Should I See It?

YES

A film that should play in the summer, with big-name talent and a smaller, more efficient budget than its counterparts. “RED” is a winning and entertaining action/comedy.

There’s just enjoyment in seeing Willis, Freeman, Mirren, and Malkovich running around shooting guns, slapping people, acting crazy and being wild. There just is.

Fans of the graphic novel will be pleased I am sure, even with changes the screenwriters put in place.

You don’t want a message or meaning movie, just something to watch and enjoy.

NO

The movie does require a bit of a buy-in, with regards to the comedy, over-the-top storyline, and action sequences. Some will not be able to get past the gimmick of the entire project.

If you are not a fan of action films, despite all involved, this may not win you over.

Some may bristle at the idea of yet another graphic novel being adapted, with “RED” serving as the latest example of there being no original ideas left in Hollywood.

The silliness of the plot may be too much to look past for some more discerning viewers.