MovieChat Forums > RED (2010) Discussion > I don't get why everyone liked this one.

I don't get why everyone liked this one.

posted 14 years ago by RynoII
20 replies | jump to latest

This film was okay, and mediocre but I didn't see anything more in it. The premise has been done numerous times before. Woman finds out that the guy she likes is actually a spy/hitman, or in this case former spy/hitman, which really isn't all that different since he's still doing a lot of spying and killing. It's been done in True Lies, Knight and Day, The Big Hit and more recently, The Expendables. However this movie has nothing knew too offer and just feels worn out. Even the actors are giving incredibly subtle and worn out performances.

Perhaps it could have been good if it has something new to offer to the genre but it doesn't. It just doesn't push the laughs far enough, like other dark action comedies such as Shoot 'Em up, The Losers, Knight and Day etc. I think the movie either needed to be a little more on the darker serious side, or it needed to push the comedy even further, and more over the top, such as Knight and Day or Shoot 'Em Up territory. Nothing wrong with being subtle, but the gags here were routine and not interesting. So as an action comedy of a similar plot to some other ones, why do people think this one ranks in their league?

[–] willb-8 14 years ago

I agree, everybody I talked to loved it and it had a lot of buzz while it was out in the theater but I thought it was just OK. Casualty of high expectations perhaps.

[–] RynoII 14 years ago

Yeah and my expectations weren't even that high since I like Knight and Day. But this isn't near as funny as that.

[–] bing-57 14 years ago

> This film was okay, and mediocre but I didn't see anything more in it.

Many people loved it because the movie just didn't take itself too seriously like most action movies these days. Plus, the action wasn't over the top. Most other action movies have the hero single-handedly killing off 50 or 100 bad guys without a scratch. That gets really old really fast.

Personally I loved the movie because it harkened back to the team-style of winning a mission. Everybody had their assignments and everybody performed them perfectly. The group won as a team.

This is, of course, opposed to the modern movie style where one hero has to do everything himself with super-heroic efforts.

--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?

[–] RynoII 14 years ago

It didn't take it self too seriously, but it didn't take itself too humorously either. This one was so neutral that, it actually needed to go over the top. In Shoot Em' Up the guy took out a 100 guys at once but that was part of the humor, so if it's done that way, I have no problem with that. But it needed to take itself even less non-seriously and go over the top. Or it needed to be more serious.

But yes, I did like the team concept of it as oppose to one guy against an army, I'll give it that.

[–] bing-57 14 years ago

> It didn't take it self too seriously, but it didn't take itself too humorously either.

That's called "subtle." If you want a slapstick, over-the-top comedy those are a dime a dozen. Just pick up any Kevin James or Wayans Brothers movie.

In fact, Bruce Willis did do a comedy cop movie this year, "Cop Out," with much slapstick. And so did Will Ferell.

To me, it's kind of refreshing not to see the exact same cop comedy three times in one year.

--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?

[–] RynoII 14 years ago

There is nothing wrong with subtle, but they just didn't have anything new to go with it, since this is just a retreat of other comedies that were still able to push the envelop further. It is subtle but it is also very neutral. Sometimes subtle prevents things from getting off the ground, as in this case.

[–] dgates64 14 years ago

You sure are writing a lot of paragraphs here for a movie you say is just mediocre. I think you really DID like it, but you don't want to admit it.

It was not a perfect movie. Very few are. But it was entertaining anyway.

[–] RynoII 14 years ago

Lol no I was just disappointed with a passion which inspired all the writing.

[–] emilykrycek-1 14 years ago

The new twist it brought to the genre was that the action heroes were all old. You get the funny juxtaposition of these characters in their bathrobes and their retirement homes going out to kick trash. I loved this movie. It's funny, with lots of sly little nods to the genre, and there's great action scenes.

[–] martin_66 14 years ago

Well said emilykrycek-1.

I watched Red last night with my wife and we both absolutely loved it (and she is very difficult to please where action movies are concerned).

It struck the right line between serious and funny, and seeing a bunch of retirees prove that they have still got it, and can kick the ass of the new generation by using their experience rather than just physical ability made it all the more enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this film, and personally I don't get why people who like action movies would not like this film.

[–] RynoII 14 years ago

Well aside from everyone being old I felt it I have seen it all before. I mean the oldness is the only originality, but that gets old in the first act, and it's cliches from then on.

[–] martin_66 14 years ago

The trouble is that there have been so many action films made over the past century that it must be virtually impossible to come up with something genuinely new, so yes, you probably have seen it all before and, yes, it is all cliches (as is the case with just about every single action film that is made these days).

At least they kept this film on the right side of comedy and on the right side of serious, to make it a very enjoyable film.

[–] RynoII 14 years ago

Yes I will it give it that, they did keep the tones well balanced.

[–] WritersCramp 14 years ago

I enjoyed the film. It was an interesting premise to see retired spies.

[–] RynoII 14 years ago

It's a good premise but they didn't really carry it out, after they introduced the characters much. Maybe if they went all out and showed the old spies have to do battle while like running around in their wheelchairs and walkers for example. Put something else in original besides their ages.

[–] daredevil1-1 14 years ago

I agree, it wasn't very good. We just HAVE to get Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman in there for no reason because they're "cool" old people (as opposed to uncool old people who can't sell the movie). And on the other hand, Bruce Willis was too young to be a contemporary of them, but God forbid we have an actual old person as the lead character. He keeps playing the retired senior-citizen who's over the hill but still looks damn good for his age, a la Sin City. Yes Bruce, we get it. You don't look pushing 70 because you aren't. Stop pretending you're the AARP spokesman so people will say how great you look for your age. I also like how Mary Louise Parker was their idea of an older woman about Bruce's age, rather than an actual 50-something love interest. The editing was also pretty lousy, I'm not sure how and which of the villains died at the end because the filmmakers did a big who cares, let's watch our cast yuck it up in a van.

[–] cherns-2 14 years ago

De Gustibus non disputatum est. No question that many plot elements weren't new, but something like this relies more on character and wit than on plot, and it worked for me. IMHO the three RED characters worked very well together (I particularly loved Malkevich), and I thought that the dialogue was clever. Enough to make the film enjoyable for me.

[–] Rupert__Pupkin 14 years ago

...this movie has nothing knew too offer.

Wow. You make a compelling case.

[–] denise1234 13 years ago

Because it was fun.

And, there can be a movie about older folks without having to resort to them in wheelchairs and walkers....sheesh!

"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

[–] sarabandit 13 years ago

I am a huge movie snob...but I really really liked this movie. I didn't expect to, but it worked somehow...I didn't roll my eyes once. (which I usually do with comedies)
I hate "modern comedy"...this slapstick, perverted, in-your-face crap that is in EVERY SINGLE comedy nowdays...any movie with Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Sean Rogen...you get the idea. I really enjoy subtle, witty, sarcastic, dry humor which you don't see much anymore in America (British humor is great).
This movie worked b/c it wasn't suppoed to be taken seriously. It was making fun of itself...which is always welcome.
The cast is really what made this film work for me. Some of my favoite actors of ALL TIME were in it...Dreyfuss and Malcovich and Mirren..what's not to love?
I can see how people are skeptical going into it...it looks like it would be dumb.
I'm curious if the people who hated it are really young? I'm 26 and atypical with my group of friends. They hated this and would rather be watching one of the comedies I hate.

Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.