Premium Red Edition

A former black-ops CIA agent, Frank (Willis), has been living a quiet life alone until a hit squad arrives to kill him, compromising his identity. Reassembling his old team - Joe (Freeman), Marvin (Malkovich), and Victoria (Mirren) - Frank sets out to prove that they still possess a few tricks up their sleeves. Starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich, this film follows the journey of an agent who cannot escape his past.

You can take the agent out of the CIA, but you can't take the CIA out of the agent - a fact Frank Moses discovers to his chagrin. Portrayed by Bruce Willis, Frank simply wishes to live out his days peacefully on his government pension. However, when a troop of black-ops individuals descends upon his home one night, obliterating it, Frank realizes he must reunite with a few of his former colleagues to uncover the truth.

This premise forms the basis of Red, a lively action film adapted from a more serious graphic novel. The inclusion of Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, and a tea-pouring, hot-lead-spraying Helen Mirren in Frank's old posse adds a certain allure, leaving audiences wondering, "Can you believe who's in this?"

The supporting cast is equally impressive. Mary-Louise Parker shines as Frank's unsuspecting civilian date, swept into the action as she may inadvertently become a CIA target. Brian Cox hams it up as Frank's former Soviet adversary, wistfully reminiscing about his desire to assassinate a US president. Additionally, Karl Urban (Star Trek) provides both brawn and brains as the current CIA agent tasked with bringing Frank down.

The film maintains a breezy tone, barely pausing to acknowledge the semi-serious story point at the heart of the plot - a hazy recollection of a disaster in Guatemala from years past. Nor does it dwell on the bodies that pile up around the fringes of the action. Director Robert Schwentke (Flightplan) allows his talented cast to shine, and he propels the plot forward at a fitting pace.

While not a work of art, Red succeeds as a multiplex diversion, delivering a fair share of genuine thrills and witty one-liners. It may not be groundbreaking, but as a lighthearted action film, it manages to entertain and engage the audience.

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