Red, a Mr. E Movie Review

Red, a Mr. E Movie Review

(Run time: 1 hr. 51 min. – Directed by: Robert Schwentke – Starring: Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Brian Cox, and Karl Urban)

R.E.D., Retired Extremely Dangerous, is an adaptation from the DC comic book series of the same name.

Who would of thought that retirement could be so fulfilling? Lets see, you get to settle into a daily routine, take your vitamin supplements, and, oh yeah, you get to pop off the occasional CIA agent whose been assigned to kill you. Wait, I don‘t think I read that in the AARP brochure? Anyway, that is unless your Bruce Willis then maybe that sort of thing might happen on the regular.

In Red, Bruce Willis plays Frank Moses, a CIA spy whose uncharacteristically been in retirement for the last couple years. Nowadays Frank’s biggest highlight in life is finding an excuse to call Sarah Ross, played by Showtime’s Weeds star Mary-Louise Parker, a customer service representative who works for Frank‘s retirement fund. That is until the CIA sends a team of assassins to “Swiss-cheese” his house in an attempt to cover up the government secrets he knows. Forced to go on the run Frank has to enlist the help of his former top secret friends that includes retirement home sweet talker Joe Matheson, played by Morgan Freeman, the ultra paranoid Marvin Boggs, played by the scene stealing John Malkovich, and the Martha-Stewart-on-the-outside-Rambo-on-the-inside Victoria, played by classically wonderful Helen Mirren.

The twists, turns, and government back stabs ensue all lead by William Cooper, played by Star Treks Karl Urban. Whose tough, by the book, CIA lynch man character really stands up on screen next to the legendary Mr. Willis. Even convincingly trading blows with Bruce in one of the movies most memorable fight scenes.

Add in the supporting cast that includes Brian Cox as Ivan Simanov, an aging Russian spy with ties to the group, Ernest Borgnine who plays Henry the CIA’s record keeper, and Richard Dreyfuss as Alexander Dunning, the devious mobster with political ties and you really have what they call movie gold.

Seeing this group of Hollywood veterans, in these roles, with this script is not only worth the price of the theatre ticket, but makes “Red” one of those movies you instantly put on your “must buy the DVD” list as well.

The action and effects just keeps coming in this wonderfully paced story and the hilarious lines and timing of John Malkovich had the entire theatre roaring on multiple occasions. Even the love story between Bruce and Mary-Louise Parkers characters develops right on cue with the rest of the film.

Red is a winner! Do yourself a favor and go see Red on the big screen and I suggest you do it with your own favorite “Retired, Extremely Dangerous” individual because it will only make the laughs that much better. A better time could not be had at the theatres.

Period.