Movie Review - Red 2

 Red 2   $$$ 1/2    

 

PG-13

116 Minutes

Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, and Helen Mirren.  

Director: Dean Parisot.

            If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Red 2 doesn’t fall far from the parent movie. Other than a new evil plot to be thwarted and the situation of how integrate a civilian girlfriend into the dangerous world of retired espionage it’s a retread of the original movie. Not that I have a problem with that. Let’s face it, where else will the tension of a villainous plan to kill millions take the back seat to the conflict between the new girlfriend and the old girlfriend in the life of our age-handicapped hero.

            Frank (Bruce Willis) loves Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker). But the zip in their relationship is stagnating because he is too busy protecting her to have any fun. Well, the gun-toting, spy shooting, risk your life at every moment kind of fun anyway. This all comes to a predictable end when Marvin (John Malkovich) shows up to warn Frank that trouble is a-brewing.  Then—BAM—the bad guys arrive on the scene and much killing ensues.

            I laughed throughout the entire movie. It was a riot. Aside from being witty the script was rather routine. Fortunately, for this story that works. The acting was great. The explosions and mass destruction of property was great. In fact, the only thing I had a problem with was the enormous disregard for human life the film portrayed. I understand that that is part of the humor of this film, but I think you can take it too far. And this film does—slightly.

            Red 2 gets a solid three-and-a-half Movie Bucks from me. It’s worth full price at your local cinema. I’m even considering picking it up on DVD when it comes out. If you go expecting more of what you got from the original movie, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

                        Randy’s Rating System

$$$$   = Full Price    See this movie right away and pay full price, it’s worth it.

$$$     = Matinee      Catch this as a matinee or other discounted showing.

$$        = Discount     Wait until this movie reaches a discount theater near you.

$          = Rental         Wait until this movie reaches your local video rental outlet.

0          = No Sale       Don’t see this movie at any price.