RED 2 review

Following up with the Retired Extremely Dangerous (RED) spy; Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) has clearly not stopped working, but is back into action with another set of witty remarks, new characters and action that sustains only until your pop-corn remains.

In case the movie hasn’t rung a bell yet, the first was released in 2010, inspired by a thrilling graphic novel, written by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer. Three years of space was much required to absorb this loud, cinematic brilliancy yet lunacy.

Frank Moses is back on the scene from his cozy life with his girlfriend, Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker)  as a warning is sent knocking on his door by his old associate, Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich). Learning of this threat, the ‘retired’ spy then embarks on a perpetual globetrotting journey, leaves the audience in sheer snooze.

New additions, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Anthony Hopkins and David Thewlis, are brought in with smooth character sketches, building the finer edges of this movie. Hopkins seems to enjoy his role, the movie and his mad-scientist character is a delight to watch. Zeta-Jones adds the Russian femme-fatal theme. To add to these character appraisals, are the CIA, M16 and crazy killers who pursue Frank Moses and his girlfriend.

The director, Dean Parisot, the man behind ‘Galaxy Quest’ mixes character appreciation, action techniques and a comical script so that crime and laughter eventually sync. It’s hard to laugh when you’re killing someone but this movie brings out the sadist in the viewer. But even though you are laughing at the series of incidents, you also realise a void of emotion, especially when the death of one of the characters dies in less than 60 Seconds.
 
If you enjoyed the first, you will appreciate this for the character choices, car crashes, explosions, chases and recurring failed attempt at what appears to be trying too Fast and Furious with the montages. Again, like the previous movie, Malkovich makes you research him, makes you inquisitive about his brilliant performance and doesn’t leave your mind until eta-Jones appears.

Compared to the movie’s prequel, RED 2 brings out smarter plots but loses it’s way during mini sub plots especially when Parker’s idea and taste of danger gets in the way of the well maintained rational script. The flaws are concealed by the otherwise ideal summertime action, leaving the audience on how this movie could star characters such as Sherlock-Holmes, Albert Einstein and Bruce Lee under one umbrella.