Red (2010)

"Do you know what's wrong with this country?"
"They all are trying to kill us?"
"Exactly!"

Frank Moses (Willis) is retired and bored.  The only highlight is phone calls with Sarah Ross (Parker), his pension representative.  They read the same novels and send each other gifts.  After outsmarting a hit squad, Frank rescues / kidnaps Sarah and goes on the road to get answers.

The enlist the help of some old friends (and enemies)...
-Frank's mentor, Joe Matheson (Freeman), provides information from his nursing home
-Paranoid Marvin Boogs (Malkovich) who camouflages everything and would rather shoot first
-Victoria (Mirren) patches them up and lends her target expertise
-And former Russian Agent, Ivan Simanov (Cox) gives them floor pans and an escape route

With a young new agent, William Cooper (Urban) on their trail and obstacles around every corner, the RED (Retired Extremely Dangerous) agents have something to prove... just don't call them old.


A great cast, funny previews... it definitely could go either way.  Thankfully, this was one of those films that is as good as the previews.  The script was funny, with lots of action.  The action sequences are good, lots of violence without much blood... and minimal language.  I didn't think they made good action movies without lots of swearing and blood.

Like their characters, the cast has something to prove: they can still headline an action film.  Bruce Willis is still intimating at 55 and still looks like he can kick butt and take names.  I normally don't like John Malkovich, he's just weird, but he was the best choice for this part.  His Marvin is crazy and uninhibited and gets some funny lines.  Helen Mirren steals the show as Victoria, playing against type as a tough wetwork agent.  You keep waiting for her character to appear and shoot people.  The rest of the cast is alright, but not overly memorable.

Check it out.  And check out THIS review at Film Forager.

Red (2010) 111 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence and brief strong language.
Director: Robert Schwentke
Starring: Bruce Willis as Frank Moses
Morgan Freeman as Joe Matheson
John Malkovich as Marvin Boggs
Helen Mirren as Victoria
Mary Louise Parker as Sarah Ross
Karl Urban as William Cooper
Brian Cox as Ivan Simanov