Film Review: RED

Warren Ellis and Cull Hamner's graphic novel, RED, is a darker affair than the movie would have you believe. Eminently light hearted, RED is nonetheless still an enjoyable romp, following a group of Retired, Extremely Dangerous geriatrics who have been targeted for termination on account of knowing too much.

Bored and lonely retiree Victor Moses (Bruce Willis) fills his mundane life by finding excuses to call civil servant Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker), who deals with his pension, so he can flirt with her. Longing for some excitement, Victor is soon visited by a squad of assassins and forced to flee his home. He concludes the reason must be down to something in his CIA past, and thus embarks on a mission to get the 'old band' back together, designated 'Retired: Extremely Dangerous'.

Willis still plays the role of wisecracking badass, and while accusations of typecasting may be abound, it doesn't matter. It's Bruce Willis goddamn it! And frankly, no one in Hollywood is more suited to the part. Yet RED isn't the Willis show. As he journeys across the United States to reunite the gang, we are introduced to Joe (Morgan Freeman) living it up in a New Orleans retirement home, paranoid crackpot Marvin (John Malkovich) and former MI6 liquidator, Victoria (Helen Mirren), who is now running a B&B. All share one thing in common; their nostalgic fondness for the 'good old days'. Indeed, age hasn't left them rusty, rather RED points out the value of seasoned wisdom.

Fans of the graphic novel may not find this more effervescent version, which glosses over the character's grim pasts, to their liking. Indeed, the plot is not particularly innovative and so the film relies more on its star power than story, but RED is still a very likable and fun film which glistens with a certain charm. Who said retirement was all about the onset of Alzheimers and afternoon Countdown?