The A-Team (2010)

Here is a movie based on a television series of the same name. There are four guys who form a unit: Colonel Hannibal Smith, Bosco B.A. Baracus, Lt. Faceman Peck, and Captain H.M. Murdock. Together, they are the A-Team. They are renowned for planning ahead and executing their actions at precise moments of their missions. But they are also renowned for their crazy antics in carrying out their assignments. Speaking of which, there are several  fight scenes where the laws of physics are overlooked, to the point where little strikes result in large impacts on objects.

These guys will blow your mind with their taste for danger and adventure. They are just the same in terms of never giving it a break when they are pursuing their adversary, or when the reverse occurs. Baracus loves his van so much he treats it like a woman. Does he even have a real woman to begin with? Faceman is cocky and profane: he just does not seem to be bothered by any predicament he finds himself in, because he knows that his comrades have his back. Murdock is mentally unstable, but can still fly a helicopter! I really think that none of his comrades were willing to take the chance with him flying the machine, yet he flies it anywhere. Hannibal, the leader of the gang, loves it when it all comes together. Oh by the way, let's see Faceman kiss a woman after puking and not rinsing his mouth; Hannibal shoot at Baracus' arm for no apparent reason. I'm pretty sure these guys are as smart as teenage boys who long for senseless action. And did I forget to mention Baracus has "Pity" tattooed on his left knuckles, and "Fool" on his right? I guess he was trying to pose as a Mr. T spoof, which he fails to do as he cries like a baby at the destruction of his van.

So the story revolves around stamping down on the printing of American money outside of the US. They must retrieve the plates, and apprehend the mastermind in Iraq. Apparently, the A-Team has no authority to intervene in this operation, but nonetheless partake in this adventure.

You will notice that every time Hannibal issues instructions to his comrades, it is as if he narrating the sequence of events. This gives the impression that everything goes according to his intended plan, even though there is likely to be a hitch in the scheme. Nonetheless, it all goes according to plan. Unrealistic. You know, vandalizing and stealing people's property should attract suspicion from them and result in sanctions. But no, these guys think that nothing can go wrong at all. So watch them cause immense damage to containers and vehicles on a stretch of road without getting hurt on any circumstance.

But immediately after Hannibal's favorite tagline, an explosion occurs in the container containing piles of dollar notes. Guess he spoke too soon and that line must be not so lucky. The gang find out that their rivals were present at the time of the explosion, leading up to a conclusion that they were framed. They discover that General Russell Morrison was involved in this botched operation and blown up. Each and every one of the comrades are court-marshaled and discharged dishonorably. Now they have to break out and clear their names, and finish their mission.

As usual there must be a series of comical instances during the prison escapes, notably in this one scene where mental patients were heavily convinced that a truck plowing into a wall was three-dimensional.  It is surprising that the truck was able to plow into the very exact spot at the same time as the movie projection, with no screen hanging on the wall. One would wonder if this writing is in line with reality.

By the way, this movie incorporates CGI in a few scenes, including one involving a tank being bombarded by unmanned drones, and another involving containers being inundated with over-the-top action scenes. I can never imagine a tank of immense weight being sustained by three parachutes. And do watch out for shaky camera movements accompanied by "flying the tank" in midair. This scene ends with a man throwing dynamite into a river, being killed by a tank; his wife delighting in that. Is she really that cold?

So this movie takes it time to round up on this plot. These guys have to outsmart a female character played by Jessica Biel. She shows how serious she can get when tracking a pack of troublemakers on the run from the law. She poses as a threat to the guys as she can not be talked into by any of these guys, nor can she be negotiated with. She needs more conviction to break.

I would rather sum this up as a movie where boys will be boys. If you like corny dialogue, over-the-top action, a convoluted plot and abundant humor, watch this flick. I have never watched the TV series on which this movie is based, but as a movie it has its moments.