HOLLYWOOD specialises in recycling former TV shows into big budget blockbusters and this summer the A-Team gets the silver screen treatment.
It’s an obvious one to re-make, with the iconic TV series lending itself perfectly to a big-screen action-packed blockbuster.
The biggest barrier to any re-make was obviously casting. Anyone who watched the original will know how well the original actors filled their roles and how difficult those boots are to fill.
Director Joe Carnahan has got two out of four spot on, with Bradley Cooper as Templeton ‘Face’ Peck and Sharlto Copley as H.M. ‘Howling Mad’ Murdock, undeniably perfect for the characters in question.
However, where Liam Neeson as John ‘Hannibal’ Smith and Quinton Jackson as Bosco B.A. Baracus, are concerned Carnahan has struggled to invoke the spirit of the legendary Mr T and George Peppard.
Neeson carries far too much humility for the role and Jackson struggles to summon the mean-streak I remember was so vividly displayed by Mr T.
In terms of the actual plot it’s a bit like an episode of the A-Team on steroids (not exactly an incisive and outlandish statement but accurate nonetheless).
The story follows the general theme of the original, we get to witness the team being court marshalled for supposed unauthorised involvement in a military operation.
The catch is that they were authorised but the only man who can prove that is dead... rather typical really.
So the team are split up and sent to prison, only to be sprung by a CIA agent who knows the truth and wants their help to recover stolen plates which are used to print dollars.
Once out the team set about their task with relish and the ultimate aim of clearing their names.
Now it’s all pretty mindless stuff. There’s little thought to the practicalities of a situation other than it looks good when something blows up.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, after all the original TV series was hardly famed for its cerebral nature. There’s no doubt that the A-Team is entertaining. It does well to recycle all the old catchlines... ‘you ain’t getting me on no plane’, ‘I love it when a plan comes together’, and so on.
Murdoch is brilliant and Face is also equally impressive fitting the roles they’re asked to play perfectly. The action is non-stop and includes some ridiculous and highly entertaining (if completely unbelievable) set pieces.
One where they parachute out of a plane in a tank and use the canon to steer is a particular favourite, while the climactic battle is also pretty impressive.
As with most blockbusters there’s plenty of room for sequels and I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the last of the A-Team.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing as it’s a good fun throwaway action flick and as long as that’s what you were expecting you won’t be disappointed.
RATING: 3/5
Tickets courtesy of Cineworld, Shrewsbury.