The new team.
First, let me apologize for that headline. I’m sure there are a million reviews of “The A-Team” using Mr. T’s catchphrase. So I’m sorry for being a million and one. I’m lazy, it’s that simple.
So this past weekend was the battle of the ’80s remakes. There was of course the first big screen adaptation of the popular TV series from the ’80s “The A-Team,” and then there was the Jackie Chan/Jaden Smith reboot of the classic 80s film “The Karate Kid.” So who won? Well, “The Karate Kid” kicked “The A-Team” in the faceman.
“The Karate Kid” production barely cost $40 million and recouped all of it over the weekend, and then some, by pulling in $56 million. While “The A-Team” spent a whopping $110 million and walked away with only $25 million. Which baffles me. I expected “The Karate Kid” to do better than “The A-Team” because it was more of a family film, kids would love it, but I didn’t expect that so few would see “The A-Team.” It’s an action movie throwback. Pointless plot, but fun stunts and badass men doing badass stuff and laughing the whole time.
The original team.
For those of you who don’t remember, “The A-Team” was a TV series that aired from 1983 to 1987, about an elite military squad that was charged with a crime they did not commit. They escaped from prison in an attempt to clear their names. While trying to clear their names they would help people who were in trouble. So every week there were new characters with a problem that only “The A-Team” could solve with their crazy plans.
I watched the show in reruns, may have watched it when the show aired but not entirely sure. I was young. But I remember loving “The A-Team.” In the interests of full disclosure I must point out that I like all TEAM movies and shows. I love a loyal group of men that swoop in and save the day. I don’t like it when one of them betrays the others. I don’t like those teams. Those teams suck.
My favorite movie of all time is “The Seven Samurai.” My favorite western is “The Magnificent Seven.” (Yes I know they are the same movie but I liked “The Magnificent Seven” before I knew about “The Seven Samurai.”)
But come on, both of those movies have the ultimate badasses and they fight for good. “The A-Team” is in the same vein. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying “The A-Team” is anywhere near as great as “The Seven Samurai” but I am saying they might be able to hold their own for a minute or two before a samurai cuts off their head. (They wouldn’t last long however against Robert Vaughn from “The Magnificent Seven.” He would kill them with one pull of his gun.)
So the big screen adaptation of the series is a pretty good adaptation. Minus two things:
1. The van, which I hope to have a replica of some day, wasn’t in the movie enough. They made a joke in the opening about it but it never showed up again. I don’t know about you, but watching “The A-Team” without B.A.’s van is liking watching Kirk and Spock flying around without the Enterprise: a waste of fucking time.
2. The film is more violent than the TV series. The show went to great lengths to never kill or badly injure anyone, including bad guys. It was good clean wholesome violence. The team simply brought people to justice. They were the jury but not the executioner. Well, in the movie they shoot a lot of people. Now, there isn’t a lot of blood and they never really confirm that people are dead, but we assume. However, there is a one climatic fight that ends with a very brutal death, and that violence is definitely against “The A-Team” model.
Mr. T recently spoke out about the violence in the film, and I have to agree with him. Although the movie was tons of fun, I still think they could have respected the series more and maintained its disgust of pointless violence.
Having said that I loved the movie. Not because it was smart or well-written, but just because it was fun. We go to the movies to be challenged intellectually and to have fun. There are art films and there are popcorn films. “The A-Team” is not art, it’s popcorn and it’s fun.
So here’s the test to see if you will like the movie. If you answer yes to three of these questions you must see the movie. Okay? Ready?
1. Do you like action movies?
2. Do you think Bradley Cooper is hot?
3. Does thinking make your head hurt?
4. Do you pity fools?
The Van.
