Red

Director: Robert Schwentke

Run Time: 1 hrs. 51 min.

Rating: PG-13

The Bouw-Man.

If a movie’s success was directly based on the quality of the cast, then you can expect great things from “Red.”  With three Oscar winners (Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and Richard Dreyfuss), a still viable “A-lister” (Bruce Willis), two television stars (Mary-Louise Parker and Julian McMahon) and three other highly respectable actors (John Malkovich, Ernest Borgnine and Brian Cox), the sky would appear to be the limit.  However, the material does not seem to best represent the strengths of its cast.  Maybe they were all sick of the usual scripts sent their way by agents.  I’m sure they get very few requests to showcase their talents in films that scream “fun action-comedy.”  So, you cannot blame them for giving it a try.  What’s curious is the director who was chosen to head this project.  Robert Schwentke has basically directed two films (“Flightplan” and “The Time Traveler’s Wife”), and neither would be considered remotely similar to “Red.” The producers must have a lot confidence in him to entrust him with such an important task.

 

The trailer seems spell out all the necessary plot points.  Willis, Mirren, Malkovich and Freeman are retired CIA agents who know too much.  They become targets after being framed for an assassination neither one of them committed.  As you would expect, they set off on an adventure/journey to find out who is behind this government conspiracy.  Customary explosions, one-liners and bonding will most assuredly take place during the film’s just under two hour run time.  For it to work, the chemistry among the key players must be absolute on the big screen.  If they are characters you can get behind, then you’ll be easily drawn into their world.  Since all of them have an impressive body of work, I think they deserve a shot.  From the preview, it looks like they reserved all the “scene-stealing” for Malkovich.  It will be interesting to see if the others are awarded their share as well.

Prediction.

The fact that it’s based on a D.C. Comics graphic novel and the cast members are loaded with accomplishments, I have to think it will have a good showing during its opening weekend.  Most of the adult fare out there is pretty serious in nature (“The Social Network,” “Wall Street 2,” “The Town,” etc.), so I think the timing of “Red” is perfect.  People need to laughs and cool explosions and “Red” should provide both.  $26 million opening should suffice.  

Opening Weekend Gross: $26 Million

Noodles.

When I look at movies like this, where they're doing their take on the CIA or some other clandestine group, I wonder if people in these organizations find this to be a load of crap. Let's face it, Hollywood is not hung up on facts when it comes to movie making. 

Anyhoo, I don't want to give the impression that I'm not seriously jazzed about seeing this film. IT has all the elements that make me sit up and take notice...Excellent casting. Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, and Malkovich? What's not to love about this group working together? Action packed story. I'll admit to not being wild about the cliche' storyline of retired agents, having to be killed by the current generation of agents but this looks cool. I think realistically though if these guys were still good enough to take down  the best of the best 20 years out of retirement, they wouldn't be retired in the first place. 

The thing that I like the most about this film is that for some beautiful reason they decided to release it without pandering to the 3D dollar. Who knows they may release it that way in some markets, but having watched the trailer a few times and seeing no mention of a "dazzling 3D spectacular" I'm feeling pretty good.

Prediction.

I'm feeling pretty confident that this one will knock the crap out of 'Social Network'...One can only hope. Its a weekend where the only competition is Jackass for the young male dollar, and it has appeal to both young, mature, and female audiences because of the seasoned cast. Older folks like to see their counterparts whooping ass and taking names.

Opening Weekend: Gross: $27 Million

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