The A-Team (Movie)

^{A-Team spin-off movie is reviewed by Sunday Simmons}

Saturday evenings as an 80s kid meant one thing – the next episode of your favourite action show was finally on! With anticipation growing all week, the time had arrived. Scrambling to secure the ‘best’ spot for viewing, the excitement was palpable. And when the theme music started, you were in the zone. Knight Rider, Airwolf, Streethawk, Blue Thunder… but no theme was as exciting to me as The A-Team! Running from 1983 to 1987, these four Vietnam vets, framed for a crime they didn’t commit, were my idols during that era. George Peppard as master planner Hannibal, Dirk Benedict as the suave ‘Face’,  Mr. T bringing the muscle as B.A. Barracus, and Dwight Schultz’s brainiac Howling Mad Murdoch, The A-Team were iconic characters played by actors who absolutely owned them. So, with that said, I wasn’t convinced when a spin-off movie was announced. However, I was pleasantly surprised!

Beginning development in the 90s, The A-Team movie hit all manner of obstacles, mainly due to flimsy plot ideas being shelved, rewritten, and shelved again. However, in 2009, with a stellar cast on board and original producer Stephen J Cannell ready to go, the film finally got underway. Released in June 2010, this action comedy didn’t fare too well with critics who hated the script but loved the actors.

Despite what the critics may say, this updated version of The A-Team has all the explosive action as the original, although I’m forced to question why they decided this film would work better if they ditched the eighties-ness of it. The team are no longer Vietnam vets, instead a Special Forces team from the Iraqi war, framed and imprisoned. The general premise is the same, but I’d have loved to see them stick to the original idea. A small gripe.

So, to the plot! John ‘Hannibal’ Smith, played by the brilliant Liam Neeson (Taken, Star Wars), is ‘getting the band back together’ after they’re all framed for a crime they didn’t commit –on the contrary, they were acting under orders, and made the scapegoats. Cue the guys making their big escapes from high security prisons and uncovering all kinds of underhand tactics and dirty dealings as they try to clear their names. Action ensues, in spades!

Bradley Cooper (He’s Just Not That Into You, A Star is Born) is particularly good as he takes on the role of Templeton ‘Face’ Peck, with MMA and UFC star Quinton Rampage Jackson pitying the fool as B.A. Barracus, and District 9 star Sharlto Copley bringing up the rear as Howling Mad Murdoch. They’ll never be ‘my’ A-Team, but honestly, I loved every minute of their time on screen, and it’s a shame the poor box office takings put the sequel on permanent hiatus. As with other spin off movies, the addition of appearances by a couple of the originals is genius. There may have been some fangirl squeals during the cameos from Dirk Benedict (Battlestar Galactica), and the ever-eccentric Dwight Schultz (Star Trek: The Next Generation).

Summed up, The A-Team movie delivers on the action of its 80s inspiration, throws in some laughs to sweeten the deal, and whilst the overall camaraderie may not quite hit the spot, it’s an enjoyable watch. Perfect for a no brainer weekend movie night, it’s streaming now on Disney+.