The 1980s seem to be back in the spotlight at the moment with a spate of remakes from that decade.
The A Team has never been on the big screen before but there've been rumours of a cinematic makeover for a long time. So now it's finally here does the A-Team movie live up to expectations?
Sadly, not really. There are elements of the much loved cheesy TV series but it takes itself a bit too seriously. The main problem is that the film takes up most of its time with introducing us to the main characters and telling back stories of how they first met. Indeed the entire movie is all about how they move from being highly sought after team of elite soldiers to becoming fugitives from the law. That in itself isn't a problem but for lovers of the series, there are a lot of extra bits added and others taken away which start to niggle after a while. Like the fact 'Mad Murdock' is already in an institution when we first see him (before he meets the other and before he's wanted by the authorities) whereas I always thought he pretended to be insane to avoid being arrested.
Setting the film in Iraq makes it all a bit too real for my liking. The original series was badly made, completely unbelievable but rollicking good fun and that's what's so obviously missing here. George Clooney was originally rumoured to be taking on the role of Hannibal but instead the task fell to Liam Neeson who although an incredible actor is too heavyweight and not nearly cheeky enough. The rest of the cast do a good enough job, even Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson (BA Baracus)who's been savaged by some critics, isn't that bad, let's face it Mr T was hardly a potential Oscar winner, it was all about the personality and the gold chains. Bradley Cooper is pretty much perfect as Face and the relatively unknown South African director and actor, Sharlto Copley steals every scene he's in as Murdock.
I really wanted to like this movie and it could have been so good. However, instead of letting the lads create a juggernaut out of a drive-on lawnmower, a mobile phone and a paper clip there's too much emphasis on the plot which becomes over complicated and is really just an excuse for some special effects which are, I have to admit, pretty impressive.
But impressive stunts are not enough here, we need more tongue in cheek humour and more spark-showering welding like we saw back in the Eighties. The theme tune is badly under-used too and it often feels like fans of the original are being ignored in favour of a new, younger audience and maybe that's worked. I saw it with someone, around my own age, who enjoyed the TV series and neither of us liked the movie. However, we were also accompanied by two 20-somethings who had never seen the A-Team and really liked the film. So if it's mindless action and special effects you're after then you might like it but if you want to see it because you loved the original A-Team just don't expect too much.
