'The A-Team' an amusing action romp

Director: Joe Carnahan

Cast: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson

Cert: 12

The long-running TV series from the 1980s finally comes to the big screen, with the same basic plot involving a crack team of military tough guys forced into crossing the line after being falsely accused of stealing money-printing plates to fight crime in their own individual way.

The TV series was always gung-ho and usually violent but while the film doesn’t stint on the violence and frantic action, it brings a pleasantly surprised audience a lot of laughs, a lot of them on the silly side.

They are also plenty of winks to indicate that it shouldn’t be taken seriously, simply enjoyed for the fun it is.

The plot hardly matters, it’s the way the film progresses and what that progression delivers: a cast clearly relishing the cheesiness of it all, the daft jokes, the mad action, Neeson as Hannibal, leader of the pack and making a marvellous fist of it … and Jessica Biel simply there to look good.

Don’t expect a classic, but expect more than you expected.

Star Rating: 4/5,