Limacher Low Down: RED does something that seems to have been lost in quite a few movies recently, which is to blend action and comedy together in an enjoyable manner. The cast is spectacular, and each person adds their own element of humor and action to the movie which made it a fun flick. The only really bad thing about Red is the fact there are so MANY quality scenes being shown in the previews! It makes me want to call the studio and bitch them out for spoiling some surprises, particularly action sequences that the audience would enjoy even more. That being said, if you missed the previews, you are lucky – it’s worth the price of admission to go on the ride.
RED starts when we see Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) living in Cleveland and just trying his best to live his life like a “normal” person. He’s getting checks from the government that he tears up, just so he can talk to his favorite receptionist, Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker).
One night a shit load of guys in black come and storm Frank’s house, which is shown in the previews, and Frank has to figure out why they were after him. Frank involves Sarah in his dangerous affairs. We next meet Joe Matheson (Morgan Freeman), who is retired and trying to indulge in the only thing worth a damn at his retirement home – the view. Immediately after that, we are introduced to the CIA agent in charge of bringing Frank in, William Cooper (Karl Urban). I won’t go into detail here, but there is an excellent sequence when Frank and William first meet. (You probably saw that in the previews too!)
Flash forward to Frank and Sarah taking a trip through the Bayou to meet up with a reclusive former CIA agent, Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich) in Pensacola. Boggs is bat shit crazy, but is the comic relief of the movie. Boggs, Frank, and Sarah make their way through the airport when all hell breaks loose, and we learn that you can’t train crazy but crazy comes in handy in another scene yet again shown in the previews. Frank decides that the CIA must be behind what is happening.
Who does Frank call when he has questions about people trying to kill him, and to make sure it IS the CIA, well his former enemy from the Soviet Union of course, Ivan Simanov (Brian Cox). Ivan and Frank have history, but decide to let bygones be bygones after some negotiating and share stories of how they got out of their former lines of work.
The movie takes the viewer on many twists and turns that are enjoyable to watch, but the group isn’t quite complete yet, they need one more person. Enter, Victoria (Helen Mirren). The group has learned of the person who may be behind the deaths of agents and friends that used to work together and it leads to one place and one man who may have the answers. The group knows that they need to complete their latest “mission” by any means necessary, and a plan comes together.
Everyone adds their own little niche to the group, and the casting was perfect for everyone in this movie and how they played their parts. This really shows when the action starts to pick up, and every time you look around somebody is getting shot at or there’s an explosion that shakes the theater at every turn. Boggs once again shows that you can’t train crazy, and in a scene that still remains funny even after you see it in ALL the previews, chases after the people who are behind the murders with a chest loaded with explosives. The movie takes somewhat of a twist at the end that I will not spoil here. I will just say that the movie was fun and what action/comedies should be more like. I say that if you want a movie that is fun with plenty of action to keep your attention as well spend your money and go see RED!
