R.E.D. doesn't disappoint

Rating: 8/10 (27 April 2011)

This is a movie that is unique straight from the top menu. It features visual styling similar to a Marvel film, with fun animation and wonderful editing in the top menu as well as in the credits. The special effects throughout the movie are on par with summer blockbusters.
Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, Hellen Mirren, and John Malkovich are just a few of the actors that make up the experienced, recognizable cast of characters, all of which play a distinct and useful role in the movie. The younger actors Mary-Louise Parker and Karl Urban provide a fun contrast to the older, more "outdated" characters played by the rest. Even though the basic plot is nothing fantastic – a former CIA agent avoiding capture and discovering a deadly secret – the wide variety of unusual characters and a few interesting plot twists keep you entertained and wanting to see what happens next.
Of course, Bruce Willis does phenomenally well playing the "Retired Extremely Dangerous" CIA agent Frank Morris. He's just as clever as he is dangerous throughout, while John Malkovich adds humor to nearly every scene he plays as the paranoid ex-agent without being overly comical. On its surface, RED bristles with intense "Die Hard" style action interlaced with witty humor that everyone can appreciate.
The characters played by Morgan Freeman, Mary-Louise Parker, and Karl Urban give the movie a deeper meaning and sense of drama and romance. Mary-Louise Parker's character finds herself in a real life romantic thriller novel, while Morgan Freeman's character gives the audience a heartfelt story of life and death that leaves you feeling good inside. The young, arrogant presence of Karl Urban's character sets up unmistakable drama between him and the experienced Frank Morris keeping the audience on the edge of their seat.
There are moments in the film that seem overly ridiculous and fairly unlikely to happen, but those are all part of the fun of the movie and are easily overlooked.
As a whole, the movie gets an 8/10. The acting is wonderful, the visuals are pleasing and cool to look at, the plot is mostly sound, and any flaws are insignificant enough to be ignored. Simply put, its exciting, hilarious, and fun for anyone to watch. Whether you like action, comedy, or drama, this movie has something everyone will enjoy.