A Local's Take on The A-Team on DVD

First of all, let’s not even compare this movie to the series that inspired it. The characters were there. The concept behind the team’s formation was there. And the expected traces of humor were there. But if you sat down expecting to see the TV series, you would be stumped into silence.

I was … at first.

I am not trying to, ahem, blow up the filmmaker’s effort in making the movie happen. I’m just saying that those who are fans of the TV series must be prepared.

The movie was modernized, possibly to make it easier for those who had never watched the TV series to relate. Anyway, the story starts out with only Hannibal (Liam Neeson) and Face (Bradley Cooper) knowing each other. Both are captured and are about to be killed – one by being fed to the dogs (literally) and the other is to be shot.

Hannibal, being Hannibal, always has a plan. He manages to escape and is on his way to save Face when he encounters B.A. (Quinton Jackson) – who is driving in his GMC van, much like the one in the series. Hannibal asks for B.A.’s help only to be greeted with (little surprise) attitude.

We learn that B.A. used to be an army ranger and a bond is instantly formed. The duo storm in to rescue the wisecracking Face who is facing certain death. After some more major stunts – and with Face finally in the van – the team is rounded out by Murdock (Sharlto Copley) who joins the group after pretending to be an Army doctor willing to treat B.A’s wounds.

The scene culminates with the team using the medical helicopter to make their escape. The film then fast-forwards eight years later with team in Iraq as a Special Forces unit taking on missions. As expected the group have earned a reputation for completing impossible missions.

The group is having a BBQ – Murdock at the grill in a wacky shirt and signature baseball hat – when they are approached to carry out the mission that will land them in prison. No spoiler here, but rest assured they escape to continue their effort to clear their names.

My first thought after watching this film on DVD was: It was fast!

It was so fast that the cliche, if you blink you missed it, is true. It’s a good thing I watched on DVD so I could rewind. There are times when the filmmaker slows the pace and you can observe the relationships between the team members and how they manage to stick together. But other times you wish they weren’t going so fast.

The TV series was obviously less intense than the movie. They attempted to address serious issues in most episodes but they did it with more humor. The film emphasized the serious more than the humor.

The movie missed the schlocky fun of the TV series. I miss B.A.’s signature dimples. I miss wise-cracking (George Peppard’s) Hannibal with the calm exterior. He was more hostile in the movie, sometimes even more so than B.A.

I don’t hate the new team. I managed to adjust and even like them. I felt the cast actually fitted their roles perfectly. But the original team left this crew some big combat boots to fill.

Recommend? Like I said at the beginning, take it as a separate movie. Don’t think about the TV series or (hard as it might be) try to link it. It is action-packed and sometimes managed to squeeze in the witty humor.