Why they might have had a point:
There's a lot to exposit, and the movie is in no hurry. It also can't decide whether it is a smart, tight caper film or a wacky zany madcap comedy. As such, it violates the rules of smart caper films by, well, violating rules of physics. Then there's the cobbled-on working class theme. But really, they may just have been worried that Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller were actually in the movie.
And yet:
This is a lot of fun. Initially it appears to simply be an overblown television show, but it builds and grows and adds increasing levels of hilarity.
The solution to the central puzzle is not exactly fair or clever, but in the end, the strength of the film is character and shtick. Murphy continues to be hilariously reliable as a supporting actor, and Matthew Broderick is like the stealth bomber of large laughs. Every single person in this movie is great, and the movie gives every single one of them a moment to shine. Yes, it's sloppy at times, but the slop includes digressions as hilarious as a good episode of Cheers.
So don't expect precision execution a la Ocean's 11, but this is a fun time.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
The A-Team
Why they may have had a point:
This film is way over its limit of single-film physics violations. Characters fall large distances and then walk away. Many things blow up for no reason-- I mean, no reason at all, not just a bad reason thoroughly debunked by mythbusters and/or common sense. And the whole story kicks off with a coincidence that it acknowledges but then does not attempt to address. You would have to inflate these characters with a case of Twinkies just to get them up to one dimension.
And yet:
Nobody phones it in like Liam Neeson. Even when he's clearly not lifting an acting pinky, he still seems like a ten-year-old who's being paid to go to summer camp and eat ice cream.
Like Mamma Mia!, this film does not flinch from its deeply cheesy nature. Many scenes play like big budget comedy sketch lampoons of themselves, and I ultimately loved the movie a little bit for that. It doesn't have a mean bone in its body, and it's not ugly or nasty. I did not feel like I needed a shower or an excuse because I watched it. Even though it is gently paranoid, it never turns gloomy and dark.
It doesn't waste time gazing into its own navel. It moves relentless forward and unspools its plot in a straightforward manner. You will not be shocked and surprised, but neither will you be dazed and confused.
The set pieces are so gloriously over the top. Yes, they're impossible and inexplicable. It's the A-Team. Remember how The Last Action Hero lampooned action-movie carnage and destruction? Well, this movie makes that movie look restrained and serious. This movie hits the sweet spot where action sequences are both ridiculous and glorious.
You know you have something special when:
Okay, Jessica Biels is playing a serious-ish character, a sort of female Tommy Lee Jones from the Fugitive, so her performance is fine. But when you are making the A-Team and the most groundedly realistic character, the least over-the-top cartoon is BA Barracus, you know something special is happening.
This film is way over its limit of single-film physics violations. Characters fall large distances and then walk away. Many things blow up for no reason-- I mean, no reason at all, not just a bad reason thoroughly debunked by mythbusters and/or common sense. And the whole story kicks off with a coincidence that it acknowledges but then does not attempt to address. You would have to inflate these characters with a case of Twinkies just to get them up to one dimension.
And yet:
Nobody phones it in like Liam Neeson. Even when he's clearly not lifting an acting pinky, he still seems like a ten-year-old who's being paid to go to summer camp and eat ice cream.
Like Mamma Mia!, this film does not flinch from its deeply cheesy nature. Many scenes play like big budget comedy sketch lampoons of themselves, and I ultimately loved the movie a little bit for that. It doesn't have a mean bone in its body, and it's not ugly or nasty. I did not feel like I needed a shower or an excuse because I watched it. Even though it is gently paranoid, it never turns gloomy and dark.
It doesn't waste time gazing into its own navel. It moves relentless forward and unspools its plot in a straightforward manner. You will not be shocked and surprised, but neither will you be dazed and confused.
The set pieces are so gloriously over the top. Yes, they're impossible and inexplicable. It's the A-Team. Remember how The Last Action Hero lampooned action-movie carnage and destruction? Well, this movie makes that movie look restrained and serious. This movie hits the sweet spot where action sequences are both ridiculous and glorious.
You know you have something special when:
Okay, Jessica Biels is playing a serious-ish character, a sort of female Tommy Lee Jones from the Fugitive, so her performance is fine. But when you are making the A-Team and the most groundedly realistic character, the least over-the-top cartoon is BA Barracus, you know something special is happening.
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