Film Reviews

Red

• Rating:
• Director: Robert Schwentke
• Starring: Bruce Willis
• Details: US/110mins 12A

A geriatric Jason Bourne, a balding James Bond; whatever way you want to word it, Bruce Willis is getting on in years and has decided to make one of his customary action flicks addressing said fact. Playing a retired former CIA Operative, he's joined by other Hollywood stalwarts, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren, in this uneven, but entertaining comic book adaptation that could've been a lot more fun had the obvious mean streak been underlined by director, Robert Schwentke.
Willis is Frank Moses; once the golden boy of the CIA, and the most effective operative when it came to clipping folk and overthrowing governments, he now leads a lonely, sombre existence. His daily highlight is when he gets to speak to Mary Louise Parker's neurotic call centre worker about his government pension. After he and other members of a former team are flagged as a threat by someone within the agency, the gang kick away the zimmerframes and load up the Uzi's for some good old fashioned killing. But Karl Urban's company man is on their trail, and he's evidently not as stupid, or as disposable, as the rest of the CIA.
The whole time I spent watching Red I was wondering if some of the cast were told it was a bit of a piss take, and others left to play it as straight faced as possible. It's that tonal indifference that proves the films Achilles heel, as you're often not sure how to take the film. Anytime an edge is presented, generally by way of another character explaining how badass a cohort is, it's quickly blunted by lethargic banter and mundanely handled action. Schwentke stages said action sequences proficiently, but without style, which renders what should be the films highlights just plain watchable.
In fairness it's the coolest Bruce Willis has been in a long time, and he at least looks like he's enjoying himself. His last two films in particular (Cop Out and Surrogates) were awful, so he plays it safe with his usual squinty delivery, followed by his now customary sh*t-eating grin. Why change something you've built a career on? Mirren is fine in a horribly underwritten role, Freeman ditto; but it's Malkovich who steals the show at every opportunity and the film is worth watching for his paranoid turn alone.
Banal material elevated by a game, experienced cast.

Review by Mike Sheridan