Hey FOOLS! I didn’t watch The A-Team on TV growing up but the idea of a team of soldiers who work as mercenaries is cool to me. Add into the mix Joe Carnahan directing, I loved Narc and Smokin' Aces, and a superstar cast and I was pumped. I will admit that there were a few moments when I got concerned that this might end up as just another 80's remake that doesn't quite work but I can assure you dear FOOLS that this is a remake that gets it right.
The A-Team are a group of four soldiers who are hired to pull the hardest jobs the military have to throw at them. Whilst working on a job in Iraq they are framed and placed in prison. The four break out and attempt to clear their names. It seems pretty simple but the film is well made by Carnahan and co and the chemistry between the members of The A-Team feels like they've been working together for years. So many films with the framed character who try to clear their names get bogged down in backstory. Usually people would tell a story of the team trying to reap revenge whilst insterspering flashbacks to tell a back story and one of the things I love about The A-Team it basically had three parts to the film. It began with the backstory then moved to the betrayal and finished with the revenge. It was so simply told that it was refreshing because at no time did it feel like the film was trying to be too smart for itself.
There are two elements that will make The A-Team a hit film. The first is the interaction between the cast, as mentioned before there is a chemistry between the four that makes you feel like this isn't their first film together. On paper it's an impressive cast of established and emerging talent but it isn't you look at the cast photo that you actually realise how well cast the four main actors were. Liam Neeson was my biggest concern, I know he's a great actor but I wondered how he'd handle the comedic moments and also the action. I know a lot of people would quote Taken as proof that he'd do fine but I was worried none the less. Man was I wrong. Neeson looks and plays the part so well of the leader, Hannibal. My next concern was UFC fighter Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson as B.A. Baracus, a role immortalized by Mr. T. This was Jackson's first big role and he handles it well, he's been chosen not only for looks and action scene prowess but also because he handles lines far better than most wrestler/UFC fighter acting crossovers.
After watching The A-Team there are no doubts that Bradley Cooper is going be a super star. I'd love to see him do a film where he doesn't have to be a smart ass. In away his Faceman was like Phil from The Hangover but if he were a trained soldier, so I'd love to just see him go hard core. Never the less Cooper is going to be huge and I think he's here to stay. But the film is stolen by one man. Sharlto Copley, his Murdock is flat out insane and his moments of randomness are just hilarious. I nearly had drink come out my nose thanks to his Blue Man Group call and I didn't stay till after the credits but supposedly there is a musical number by Murdoch. Thanks to Salty Popcorn for the heads up. The cast is well rounded out by Jessica Biel and Patrick Wilson. Biel does well not to come across as annoying and I really liked Wilson in this film he was cool but not ridiculous like Jason Patric was in The Losers.
The second element that people will love is just how crazy and fun the action sequences in the film are. From a crazy helicopter sequence to the dropping of a tank out of a hercules airplane they are just insane but they never get into the ridiculous realm, which is a really fine line. They are just huge fun action scenes. Need proof watch the shipping container scene which could so easily have been stupid under a lesser director but Carnahan manages just make it an exciting and tense scene. Carnahan also does well to keep such an overpowering cast from overshadowing each other. So easily this could have been a Baracus or Faceman or Murdoch film but Carnahan manages to keep this an A-Team film.
I'm going to be honest, this is a fun action film that doesn't require a lot of thinking. If you go in with a negative feel on the film I'm sure it'll grate you the wrong way because you probably don't want to be there anyway. But if you were like me and hoping that The A-Team would be a fun action film that would wash away the bad taste left in your mouth after The Losers and hopefully make you excited to watch action films again. This is definitely a film for you. Go out and enjoy this film for what it is. A heck of a lot of fun.