The A-Team (2010)

Duuuuh duh duh duh.... duh duh duuuuuh.

d..d.. duh duh duh duh.

Duh d..d..d..duuuuuuh!

Are you humming along yet?

The A-Team was always a favourite of mine as a kid. What was not to like? From the amazing theme tune to the brilliant voice over intro and that awesome looking truck. A rogues gallery of military misfits (mad Murdoch often stole the show) helping out the good guys by waging war on the bad guys, using any old junk they could find laying around. Always ending with that classic line, "I love it when a plan comes together!" Is there a bloke in this country that hasn't muttered that line while drunkenly smoking a cigar at someone’s birthday or wedding?

I was really hoping this would be a stylish re-imagining, bringing Hannibal, Face, B.A. and Murdoch back to life, and not a soulless 'reboot' like a few others that have been released lately (Planet of the Apes was so bad Tim Burton but I forgive you.xx) It does make me wonder if film makers prefer to just take an old idea and try to squeeze a few extra quid out of it rather than risk an original story (but that is a rant for another day).

I loved the opening to this film. Hannibal, played by a resurgent Liam Neeson kicks some ass and quickly lights a cigar! We are treated to a fast paced opening 20 or so minutes where the main characters are introduced. B.A (Bosco apparently) is played surprisingly well by UFC hard man Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Face is Bradley Cooper and Murdoch is Sharlto Copley. It does start as a warm homage and a slick update but then it skips forward 8 years so the main storyline can begin...

This is where my problems really begin. A main plot involving some army woman type that Face had a fling with, a cocky CIA agent, a corrupt defence contractor and something about a money press... YAWN. I was bored. There seemed to be a fixed pattern by this point, some plot talk, a few wise cracks by Face (was he always this annoying in the original or is that just Cooper?) and I would start falling asleep. Then a huge BANG as some action kicks off and I'm awake again.

There are some good moments but they get lost as the director tries to make things look too clever. Hannibal starts describing a plan as the action cuts to the actual execution of it. It all seemed too much like Ocean's 11 and not enough like the original DIY man's dream of saving the day using 3 rubber bands, a tin of chicken soup and the help of a local boy named Paco. I could relate to the original, running round my mates back garden building booby traps with anything we could find and urging his little brother to "just step on that plank, it won't hurt honest." Sadly this is a reboot, meaning everything has to be so over the top it has lost most of the charm of the 80's TV series.

Face is far too annoying. Did I mention this before? He annoyed me so much I think I have subconsciously blocked all memory of his one liners. The group is saved by the banter between B.A. and Murdoch, who provide the best moments of the film for my money. Jackson seems to have a really good time cursing his way through almost every scene and shouting threats at everyone.

Overall it is a fairly decent dumb ass action movie made better by playing to our fond childhood memories of the original show. What could make a scene involving a parachuting tank any better? B.A. shouting "you can't fly a tank fool!" of course.

4/10