The Losers (12A) **

The Losers (12A) **

Dir: Sylvian White

Starring: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Zoe Saldana

Summary: A Special Forces team on a mission in Bolivia find themselves targeted by a crooked CIA agent Max, who is known to them by voice alone. Presumed dead, they live in secret in South America until they are approached by Aisha, a mysterious woman with a score of her own to settle with Max. Action soon follows as they hunt down Max to stop him from sending the world into a high-tech war.

Verdict: To those of us who have seen the original A-Team series, or indeed just the 2010 remake, the premise and plot of The Losers will be very familiar. This action flick comes complete with ex-military types who have their own unique specialities, have been betrayed by crooked government types and have several comedic moments.

Obviously this is not a bad way to go - as the success of The A-Team shows – but it does seem slightly plagiaristic.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is Clay - the Losers’ Hannibal - and Chris Evans’ Jenson is the Losers’ equivalent of Face. These two are known for playing characters like who they play in the film. Morgans role as the tough guy Comedian in Watchmen is not too dissimilar from Clay, and Evans has of course had experience playing the cocky hero type in Marvels Fantastic Four.

One of the highlights is the strong, silent Cougar (Oscar Jaenada) – the team’s sniper who is seen free running with his rifle on his back, and ends up in some spectacular places doing some very talented shooting.

Tie this together with Jason Patric’s Max – one of the arrogant, shoot-anyone-who-even-slightly-annoys-me bad guys, some fairly decent pyrotechnics, and this isn’t a bad film to watch in an evening when you don’t want to think too much and just relax.