Film Review: 'Red 2' is for those who wished the first part had larger than life action scenes

Film: Red 2
Cast: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta Jones, Byung Hun Lee
Director: Dean Parisot
Rating: ***

What it's about:
So what do you do when your film is the sleeper hit of the year? You go ahead and make a sequel! Dean Parisot revisits the 2010’s hit team of undercover hitmen who are now joined by Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta Jones and Korean star Byung Hun Lee in what seems to be a calibrated effort to use the old tricks to market some new material. Retired CIA agent Frank Moses (Willis) is dragged back into the game by his girlfriend (Parker) and old accomplice Marvin (Malkovich). 

This time around he has to prevent a deadly weapon of mass destruction from reaching the hands of a rogue government. The action takes place across Europe as they sprint across London, Moscow and Paris figuring out who’s the fugitive that’s giving them the chase.

What's good:
The banter between Willis and Malkovich has some of the most entertaining exchange of verbal volleys. While the former has a zen like appeal, the latter doesn't flinch from adding dollops of colour to his language. Given the fact that it is a throwback to the first, there is a sizeable increase in the ammunition. Most of the stunts are magnified to the scale 10, especially the slow motion car scene with Helen Mirren which takes the cake. Byung Hun Lee brings a nice Oriental twist to the tale. Anthony Hopkins is terrific as the quirky scientist and takes us back to the Hannibal Lecter days for one fleeting second.

What's not:
The gags lack the required punch, some of them seem over rehearsed while others seem . Malkovich gets the best lines while Mirren’s screen time is awfully slashed. Willis and Parker’s zany chemistry gets jaded before interval. Catherine Zeta Jones is wasted in an extended cameo sort of roles as Frank’s ex-girlfriend. The ensemble reminds us of the Expendables, only this one is more fashionable and feisty. It isn't that the film isn't funny, some scenes and lines will have you in splits, but the cohesiveness is missing. Also making the older actors do crazy stuff and pull off those mind boggling stunts was a formula milked dry in the prequel. This time around the same exercise seems futile.

What to do:
If you enjoyed the first part, and wished it had larger than life action scenes, then Red 2 is your ticket this weekend.  

You will like this movie if: You own the Red DVD.