Red

The studios are well aware that there are no new acting elites being grown, and the younger ones (who are now all over 40 anyway) like Depp have expenses that could turn something like Addis Ababa into a lucrative metropolis, so they're trying to pull all the old '80s and '90s hot stuff out of the swamp to justify this totally unimaginative and perhaps illegally primal spectacle. By the way, they have themselves to blame for the acting youth, because they look for new stars based on the right curl of their bangs or the obligatory pigmentation. Red works in part because, for example, Malkovich and Mirren were quite good. But is it worth including Willis anymore just to stand there or walk around? The man has completely given up on making any effort to act and he goes through the entire film with one expression, which isn't fair for that kind of money, am I right? Anyway, it's a film shot on a vacation for all involved with horrible elevator music, resulting in a disgustingly chill out spectacle for undiscerning retirees and proponents of the notion that movies are about actors. For me, The A-Team rules. (03/21/2012)

I admit that I approached Red as an action comedy with a certain disdain because I usually don't appreciate action nonsense, and when I hear the term "action actor," I instantly get a rash. And behold - this film won me over. It's good enough to cast actors who have facial expressions and acting talent, instead of desperados who spend their whole lives in the gym. It's good enough to act with a suitable dose of irony, humor, and nobility, and most importantly, to stay somewhat grounded when massacring hordes of enemies. Red is somewhat more intimate compared to its genre siblings, giving more space to dialogue, quotes, and the main stars - Bruce Willis from the older generation and Karl Urban from the younger one, who, alongside their exceptional physical condition, are very decent character actors. Bruce Willis also excels at self-irony, which he has been honing since the days of Moonlighting. Any fan who has seen a few of his films will recall specific scenes and shots from his filmography when seeing his face, his raised eyebrows, and his dry lines. Great character actors also work well in supporting roles, which you wouldn't expect in an action movie, led by Helen Mirren, who fearlessly fires a heavy machine gun. Add to that Mary-Louise Parker, for whom I have a weakness, who carries the romantic storyline of the film, and above all, the insane John Malkovich, whose paranoia and pink piglet he drags around everywhere led me to want to give Red five stars. It is a very enjoyable and memorable film. Overall impression: 75%. (04/29/2011)

I’d happily replace gaps with drawn-out verbal filler in favor of action, which Schwentke handles quite easily. Thumbs up for those moments when the retired agents are having fun over the fact that in their youth the SS (Secret Service ;-)) wasn't a bunch of old farts because the actors are having a blast with it. However, the lack of a stronger villain and a thicker plot won't let me give that fourth star. 3 ½. (10/17/2010)

Red is a “costume show” with a senile plot, which is more about individual attractions than creating a coherent whole. You’ll have fun, enjoy Willis playing Willis, Malkovich reminiscing about the good old days of Burn After Reading and the regal Helen Mirren in a white dress, shooting a heavy machine gun. With a better script, this could have been one of the best movies of the year, but that sadly didn’t happen. Karl Urban might get some major roles in grade-A blockbusters. Robert Schwentke, circling around him at an intersection, elevated Michael Bay-like turning around the guy with a gun to the level of sophisticated ballet. Exactly between three and four stars; I’m giving four because I gave three to Resident Evil: Afterlife :-) (10/29/2010)

Schwentke would have to be more than just a learned craftsman to make RED more than just a solid film. It's pretty dynamic, but the style is taken from somewhere else, so it's definitely not consistent. The story is comic-book exaggerated, and in the film narrative it is terribly banal. But the old boys are great and are good at their jobs. In the end I had a great time, and I left with the belief that if an inventive helmsman got his hands on it, this cruise could give a lot. The way it is, it "just" entertains. (11/01/2010)