The A-Team is the most recent in the long line of Hollywood movies drawing off mildly successful TV series. First going to air in 1983, The A-Team told in 48 minutes + commercials and credits, the story of some impossible situation which is solved with an overly complicated rescue performed by the four former US Army Rangers. They are of course super tough, geared up with the latest hi-spec gadgets and have plenty of covert experience. The feature is much the same. except the bad guys are a rouge Ranger General and friend of Col Hanibal Smith (Liam Neeson), a CIA black ops commander and a CIA handler.

The movies starts out before The A-Team (the A stands for Alpha) even exists. Liam Neeson is rescuing Bradley Cooper and on his way brings in Quentin ‘Rampage’ Jackson (No, that’s his real name – the character name is B.A Baracus). Later they invite Sharlto Copley to join their merry band. Let the fun begin. Old friend/mentor betrays younger leader with the aid of a hostile contemporary on the same side. Add the CIA and it’s clear that no one in Hollywood has any idea what constitutes an authentic enemy anymore. Russia is now a friend, South Africa held free elections, North Korea was held up to ridicule so spectacularly in Team America that no one has the balls to use them anymore as the bad guys and the ‘A-rabs’ just don’t hit the mark anymore while the body count in Afghanistan continues to mount. The opening scene depicts a confrontation between Neeson and Cooper, and a Mexican drug cartel boss but again they are easy targets. You will however need to know the phrase Alpha Mike Foxtrot for the conclusion to this scene to make the maximum impact.

Neeson does a very good job of hiding his Irish accent as does Copley in trading his South African accent for a Southerner.

Special effects are amazing and the director uses a nice method of explaining the plan while showing the action.

Big budget, lots of explosions, over the top finale and of course as this is the introduction of The A-Team the Hollywood ending you might expect isn’t forthcoming.

Glad I saw it, wouldn’t see it again. 6/10