The Losers revolves around a squad of framed soldiers and so sounds more than a little like The A-Team, but it’s way more fun than the recent big-screen version of that ’80s show, thanks in no small part to a colorful cast and a refreshing sense of humor.
Based on a series of graphic novels, it sees the titular CIA black ops team set up by big baddie Max (Jason Patric) for the death of 25 innocents during a mission in Bolivia. A beautiful but mysterious operative (Zoe Saldana) helps smuggle the boys back into the U.S. so they can even the score.
The film is fun right from the start, introducing the group (including Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans and Columbus Short) via comic book panels and oozing amusing macho attitude as the members engage in a demonstration of mine-is-bigger-than-yours using their various guns and knives.
The action stuff rocks, and is edited so you can actually see what’s happening. The heroes get involved in shootouts, hand-to-hand combat (like the fierce fight between Morgan and Saldana in a hotel room) and at one point are saved by Saldana and her rocket launcher. Especially awesome is the sequence near the end in which a Ducati takes out a Lear jet in explosive style.
So it definitely works on a pyrotechnic level, but the casting raises it above your average action flick. Morgan brings a convincing weariness to his leader role, Evans is energetically cocky and Short is just plain good, particularly in showing how he misses his pregnant wife. Idris Elba (The Wire) is perfectly imposing as another team member, and his animosity towards Morgan has actual substance.
Saldana (Star Trek) capably kicks butt but is basically around as eye candy, and for sure is outdone by Patric (My Sister‘s Keeper), the true cherry on this delicious cake. I’ve always found him a bit bland, but he’s a total blast here, be it wondering why his right-hand thug just threw a guy a off the roof or mocking a truly short man’s lack of height. He helps turn the movie into a true winner. – [DVD] [Blu-Ray]
Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery/Thriller
Rated PG-13
DVD Release Date: 7/20/10