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Although it beats the alternative, no one likes the thought of growing old. Many fear the day when they are weeded out for the younger, faster and better looking. In the new action comedy from Director Robert Schwentke (Flightplan) a group of retired CIA Opp’s get a chance to show that when it comes to kicking butt; age before beauty is the better bet. 
 
Frank Moses is an ex Black-Op (Bruce Willis) who is trying to get used to the retired life. He spends his days moping around the house and flirting with one of the phone operators (Mary-Louise Parker) at the agency.  When Frank is surprisingly targeted by an elite squad of military assassins he must assemble the only people he can trust; his former CIA unit. They dust off the old guns and jump back into the lifestyle in which they are well trained and best suited. Thrown into the mix is Parker’s character who isn’t sure if dating an ex operative is such a good idea after all. 
 
This film is a lot of fun. In addition to the well executed action sequences there are comedic elements that add a perfect balance to your normal shoot ‘em up flick. John Malkovich is always spot on and is outstanding here as a paranoid, trigger happy agent. He brings much comic relief to the tense sequences. Solid characters with well crafted personalities are key to making this hum. You have to wonder if the cast were chomping at the bit to do roles such as these. Helen Mirren can play the Queen any day but to strap on a submachine gun and take out bad guys was probably a treat. Only a few years ago Morgan Freeman was doing a film about kicking the bucket but now he is kicking some serious butt. It was almost as if they are saying to the world, “don’t let the gray hair fool ya.” 
 
Rounding out the cast is Karl Urban as the young CIA agent forced to bring down the old timers and a treat of a performance from legend Ernest Borgnine. The onscreen chemistry of the players too was successful. When you have a film based on characters that have lived such a life together you have to believe in them. There has to be fluidness to their interaction or you lose trust. The story line must be praised as well. Screenplay writers Jon and Erich Hoeber may be new at this game but here they construct a fast paced cat and mouse game of government intrigue and cover-up. Based on the graphic novel by Ellis and Hamner, this film elevates that story to new levels. The writing is smart and funny while not bogging down with unnecessary arcs and rabbit trails. They stayed focused and allowed the unique characters to be the driving force. 
 
Red is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence and brief strong language. There is very little in this film to find offensive. Sure the main characters dabble in an expletive every now and then but who wouldn’t under the circumstances. I appreciated the fact that it wasn’t gratuitous and you almost get the feeling that age has made these gun toters a little more mature and refined. The violence is well choreographed and not over done. Still, lots of things blow up and the gun fire is rampant; just in a contained setting. It gets 4 out of 5 stuffed pigs. Never a dull moment and one that reaches outside the normal realm of action films. 
 
Matt Mungle
 

Review copyright 2010 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.