Red (DVD)

With most of the major comic book properties having already been slung at the silver screen, it’s no surprise that Hollywood is leaving no stone unturned as they trudge the depths of Marvel and DC’s back catalogue for more comic books to adapt. Generally, it’s not a bad thing as it means some awesome, less-famous characters are given the treatment they deserve. However in some cases, these minor graphic novels are given a less-than-glowing transfer to film.

Sadly RED falls into the latter category. While it’s by no means awful, it’s far less engaging than you’d expect for a film that involves Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren stomping ass as a gang of former CIA agents who are trying to get to the bottom of why they’re on the government’s shit-list and targeted for assassination.

Touted as a comedy, it’s worthy of making you chuckle here and there. In terms of action, there are plenty of bullets flying, but nothing you haven’t seen a thousand times before. The result is a filler flick that will most likely irritate die-hard fans of the comic (due to it not doing justice to the source material) while not exactly inspiring newcomers to nip to their local Forbidden Planet to get their mitts on a copy. Like The Losers and 300, it’s a mildly enjoyable but ultimately uninspiring jaunt through yet another comic book story. Worth a rent maybe, but not exactly essential viewing.

As for extra features, again, it’s hardly riveting stuff. There’s a bunch of forgettable featurettes and interviews that pad out the disc and a handful of decent enough deleted scenes that flesh out the story somewhat. Other than a commentary, there’s not a lot else. It makes for a run-of-the-mill disc for a run-of-the-mill movie.

Overall Verdict: It’s by no means the worst way to spend a couple of hours, but it’s hardly life changing stuff.

Reviewer: Jordan Brown