Retired and Extremely Dangerous (RED)

Another film review! Most people when they retire are not generally dangerous. Hollywood, however generally finds good reasons why Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich are dangerous and indeed they are anything but demure retirees.

Retired from what? No spoilers here, but Willis is a retired CIA operative getting bored with his humdrum life. He strikes up a relationship with a woman (Mary-Louise Parker) at the CIA pensions office who sends him his monthly pension cheque. Then, without warning, his life is at risk when he and his home is attacked by a CIA team!

Willis gets together his old team of Mirren, Freeman and Malkovich plus Parker who he befriended from pensions to discover why he and indeed they are being targeted. On the way they meet Brian Cox playing a retired Russian agent, Richard Dreyfus as a gangster who has put the Vice President in office and dear old Ernest Borgnine as a CIA records clerk.

On the opposition side in the CIA is an extraordinary actor with so much promise, the brilliant and moody Karl Urban who gets pangs of conscience in the end.

This is a rip roaring story with a thoughtful Willis underplaying his role well. Malkcovich is delightfully mad as the homicidal side kick and Mirren is at ease in her role as a retired assassin who does a few 'contracts on the side.' Morgan Freeman is great in support playing an 80 year old and throughout the whole film, there are good humourous moments and a sharp witty script.

The story keeps the film moving on nicely and at 12A and very little swearing, all ages including young teens will enjoy this adventure. Although there is lots of bodies all over the place, there is little if any blood or gore or gratuitous violence, the film swans along through the strength of the acting of some of the best actors of our time.

This is a recommended piece of great fun.

Chat soon

Ta-ra.