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Joe Carnahan
June 3, 2010
Liam Neeson’s character, Hannibal Smith, is a man who enjoys it when a plan works out. He oversees a close-knit group of skilled assassins, but after being accused of a heinous crime, Smith and his men go rogue in an effort to clear their identities and catch the real culprit. Jessica Biel’s character Charissa Sosa (who was once associated with a member of Smith’s crew) is hot on their trail and has vowed to do whatever it takes to bring them in.
As team leader Hannibal, Liam Neeson, who appears to be caught in a trend of post-grief “make me laugh” movies, nicely mimics Peppard’s performance from the television series, while Bradley Cooper takes Dirk Benedict’s role as Face and amps it up by making his Face slightly less attractive but infinitely more smooth. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson can’t act, but Mr. T couldn’t either. Sharlto Copley gives what is undoubtedly the film’s best performance as the highly competent yet equally vulnerable character, proving that his hailed performance in last year’s District 9 was no fluke.
Thoughtfully over-the-top action, characters, and humor are purposefully used in this picture as a tongue-in-cheek homage to the original series, and the ensemble cast makes the movie work for the most part.
While “The A-Team” might not be the kind of movie that will stick with you for the rest of your life, it will nevertheless make you smile today. “The A-Team” is a guilty pleasure, despite its impact being diminished by the film’s poor staging and preference for aesthetics over content.
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