‘The A-Team’ Really? D is more like it!

Where is the ‘A-Team’ when we really need them – like right after I have shelled out $18.00 (plus another $5.00 for some Diet Coke) to see what is most likely the worst movie of the year (I refused to go see ‘McGruber’ – so some may argue that!)? I have to admit – I was pretty excited to see ‘The A-Team’ as I was a fan of the obnoxious, but always knew it was a joke, series from the ‘80’s. Originally conceived by Stephen Cannell (creator of the impressive: ‘Baretta’, ‘The Rockford Files’ and others) who also produced the film version, as the story of a group of wrongly convicted vets who break from jail and roam the country as mercenaries righting the wrongs of the world. ‘The A-Team’ was a series that never took itself too seriously and because it was a TV series – you had the luxury of getting to know the characters – so you actually had a chance to care about them. In the film version, not only do we not care about the characters – but the actors don’t seem to care about the project.

Liam Neeson is Hannibal Smith, the leader of this merry band of misfits; a part formally played by George Peppard in the series. Peppard was a much better Hannibal, he was at the twilight of his career so he could have fun and we knew it. Neeson seems to be phoning in the performance; perhaps he just needed the extra paycheck to cover the new villa in Ireland? Bradley Cooper (much better in ‘The Hangover’) plays Face, the irreverent Airborne Ranger with the endless libido. Cooper is all buff body and no substance in the film; if I wanted to see him prance around shirtless, with a stupid smirk on his face (as if to say – I am rich, a movie star and I have nothing but time to work-out), I could just pick up any recent issue of People or The Star. Sharlto Copley (District 9) is Murdock, the crazy pilot and only bright spot in the entire film. Copley steals each and every scene he is in – looking as if he is the only one who realizes this is a piece of fluff – so why not have fun? Rounding out the cast is Ultimate Fighter Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson as B.A. Baracus in a performance so bad that he makes Mr. T look like Sir Anthony Hopkins! With lame dialogue, even lamer action sequences along with a plot that is nearly impossible to follow – ‘The A-Team’ – at very best deserves a ‘D’ or about 1 star!

Leave this in the theaters, don’t believe the studio produced hype and go to MeTV (or TVLand) instead and watch reruns of the TV series!

My Redbox Rental Pick is something more to my liking and very capable of washing away the horrifying images ‘The A-Team’ left in my brain! ‘Edge of Darkness’ marks the return of Mel Gibson to film after a nearly career ending self destruction during his recent divorce and bout with alcohol. A gritty and exciting thriller, the story follows the tale of Boston cop Thomas Craven (Gibson) as he searches for the killers of his daughter. Ray Winstone is simply fantastic as the shadowy CIA agent who helps Gibson along the way. A perfect role for Gibson’s return to the big screen! A 3 ½ star effort well worth the $1.00 investment at your local Redbox!