RED 2

Frank Moses (Willis) has just started getting used to his retirement from the high octane world of CIA black-ops with his girlfriend, Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker). But then Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich) resurfaces to warn Moses: powerful people want him dead, again, and they’ll use his former allies to ensure it. The only way to save himself this time is to retrieve a portable nuclear weapon that could be deadly in the wrong hands. The problem? He needs to break its creator, criminally insane Edward Bradley (Hopkins), out of jail to disarm the device, and for that, he’ll need old flame Miranda (Catherine Zeta-Jones). If the world’s governments don’t get Moses first, the women in his life just might.

RED 2 is a great sequel to 2010’s RED, this time helmed by Dean Parisot, of Galaxy Quest fame. He manages to improve on what was already a very solid film, mostly by taking everything to the next extreme, i.e. bigger scope, more action, etc. He’s helped by a script full of cracking one-liners and some impressive practical effects.

Some solid performances from the ensemble cast help to make RED 2 even better. Bruce Willis is on fine, weary form as the beleaguered but dangerous Frank, whilst John Malkovich brings back the crazy as the unhinged Marvin. But it’s the casts’ new additions that shine the brightest: Catherine Zeta-Jones impresses as the sultry Miranda, whilst Anthony Hopkins chews up the scenery as the criminally insane Bradley.

RED 2 would’ve been a good film if it’d only been a rehash of the original RED. But by elevating it to the next level, it instead becomes a thoroughly enjoyable film helped in large part by its impressive ensemble cast, and hopefully paves the way for the future adventures of the world’s most dangerous pensioners.

Tom Freeman