Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is a retired CIA agent trying to get through his days without being too bored.  He’s created this relationship with Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker) after talking to her day after day on the phone about pension cheques that have magically disappeared into his trash bin torn into pieces.  One day, for no apparent reason, he’s targeted by the CIA and he has to get Sarah – as well as some more useful colleagues – to try and stay alive while figure out this whole thing.

This movie is a fun action film which preys on the notion that old people aren’t supposed to be winning these fights.  From the early scene with Frank beating up a small team of highly equipped enemies in the close quarters of his home to Marvin (John Malkovich) defeating a rocket launcher with a single bullet in a sort of awesome old west style draw the film was filled with fun action that even though isn’t grounded in reality never felt too over the top.

Early in the film we’re introduced to William Cooper (Karl Urban) who’s obviously the younger version of Frank Moses.  He’s the badass of the day that does what he’s told without asking any questions because he thinks he’s doing a service for his country.  However, it’s not until he sees that the agency lied to him about Moses’ background.  They tell him he’s an old analyst, and then he gets his ass handed to him and feels cheated.  He doesn’t think he’s not up to the challenge; he just needed a heads up as to what he’s up against.  The film takes us on the chase of not only William Cooper trying to kill Frank, but also of William realizing how his world really operates and who the good guys really are.

What makes this movie work is not only the fact that the action is so stylistically enjoyable, like a The A-Team, but also that all the actors involved have great comedic timing.  John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren all work in their roles well.  The gag of these calm retirees all turn out to be the most efficient killers that you’ll ever meet just works so well.  Even as you see them walking from hallway to hallway enacting their elaborate plan of getting the CIA off of their asses is fun to watch because it’s so funny seeing their thirty-year-old counterparts getting beaten time and time again.

I particularly enjoyed the subplot of Helen Mirren and Brian Cox, who I didn’t know was actually in this movie.  We’re introduced to Ivan Simanov (Brian Cox) in the middle of the film with Frank trying to call in some favours, but it begins with this hilarious moment where their exchanging moments in their past of who got the better of the other.  It’s hilarious and so brilliantly written that I can’t help but imagine that it began as an idea and Willis and Cox just kept going based on roles Willis had played before and Cox being as awesome an actor that he is.

The movie is cartoony action packed fun that I would recommend for everyone to go see.  The film takes all the actors comedic strengths and runs with it.  It definitely isn’t as good as The A-Team but it’s miles ahead of The Losers and definitely a good popcorn film that you’re going want to check out in the theatre.

IMDB says 7.4/10

Rotten Tomatoes says 70%

I say 7.5/10