A-Team: A+ for summer fun
This movie is utterly preposterous. From the insane helicopter chase scene to Bradley Cooper’s hair, nothing in this movie could happen in real life.
And I loved every minute of it.
“The A-Team” is directed and co-written by Joe Carnahan, who directed the magnificent “Narc” and the underrated “Smokin’ Aces.” It is based on the 1980′s TV show of the same name and stars Liam Neeson as Col. John “Hannibal” Smith, Bradley Cooper as Templeton “Faceman” Peck, Quentin “Rampage” Jackson as B.A. Baracas and Sharlto Copely as “Howlin’ Mad” Murdock. This is an incredible cast with great chemistry and charisma that works on every level. Anyone who is familiar with the show will love this cast; it is pitch perfect.
Make no mistake, this is one of the most ridiculous movies you will ever see. It is over the top of the top. Two words: flying tank. If you can buy that, this is your flick. Like “Bad Boys II,” or any of the Transporter movies, logic is completely thrown out the window. Laws of gravity and basic physics cannot be found anywhere near this movie.
This is kind of an origin story. We see at the beginning how the team is brought together. It begins with a rescue mission in Mexico, immediately setting the tone and style of the movie. The quips and bullets fly and we really get a good sense of the characters and their relationship with each other. We see each man’s specific skills and what they have to offer to the greater cause. As good as most of the action is, the real strength of “The A-Team” is the chemistry of these four men and how they work together.
I don’t really want to talk about the plot of this movie too much. It’s not that this film has an ingenious plot or that it is revolutionary in any way. It’s just fun to watch it play out. Needless to say, guns are fired, laughs are had and the plan comes together in the end.
Back to the cast. Liam Neeson is great. Anyone who saw “Taken” knows Neeson can handle the action, and he doesn’t disappoint here. Unlike the TV show, in which George Peppard played Hannibal as a wannabe actor-stuntman, Neeson’s Hannibal is all business. He’s an elite soldier and a professional. Also, Bradley Cooper gets a chance here to play against type, kind of. He’s made a career so far playing a cad. Even when he’s not the villain like he was in “Wedding Crashers,” he still is a bad boy, like in “The Hangover.” He does arrogant well. He does it here, too, but he is quite literally the hero and does it beautifully. Faceman and Hannibal have a nice father/son relationship that is a bit contentious but plays under the surface mostly.
“Rampage” Jackson, on the other hand, is not an actor. He is a world-class MMA fighter who physically fits the bill. He looks good in a mohawk and has the right build to take over the role Mr. T played in the show. He does a passable job and that’s all that’s needed as it really isn’t much of a role. It’s more about presence, and he has that.
Sharlto Copely, as Murdock, is absolutely perfect. He was so amazing in “District 9,” which if you haven’t seen, don’t wait any longer β see it! It’s one of the best sci-fi movies in many, many years. The character of Murdock as played by Dwight Schultz on TV, may or may not be insane. He is more of an adjutant, there to get under Mr. T’s skin. Copley’s Murdock is nuts, possibly a schizophrenic. He is unpredictable and gets most of the laughs, whether he’s barbecuing steaks using anti-freeze or turning the helicopter engines off mid-flight in order to escape heat-seeking missiles. He is the definition of wild card.
Patrick Wilson, on the other hand, has the best role of anyone. He plays Lynch, a smart if slightly goofy C.I.A. agent with unclear motives. A lot of times in these movies, this type of role would allow someone to chew the scenery and go crazy. Wilson resists the urge to do this and just has a good time without drawing too much attention to himself.
The one female character in this movie is played by the Jessica Biel, and to Carnahan’s credit, he treats her like a real character and not just eye candy. She has a solid part that, despite being pretty clichΓ©d, works in the context of what this movie is trying to do. Biel is a very good actress and I think she adds nicely to this movie. She also is incredibly gorgeous without looking like a generic Hollywood starlet. Good casting on the director’s part.
This is a really fun movie. The perfect summer movie, in my opinion: Big, loud, fast, fun and worth seeing in the theater.
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