'Red' a decent action timewaster

Director: Robert Schwentke

Cast: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker,

John Malkovich, Karl Urban

Cert: 12

You couldn't ask for a more star-studded cast than this, even if what they're asked to do is quite ordinary.

OK, it's entertaining, but quite ordinary since all we get is a trip around several Stateside locations, nothing by way of decent plot between the shoot-out action and a storyline that's been cobbled together simply to bring the stars together for a good pay day.

Everyone, especially Willis, does seem to enjoy the film and this will doubtless transfer itself to the audience in a pass-the-time sort of way.

Willis plays retired CIA agent Frank Moses who appears to be Retired and Extremely Dangerous - RED, get it? - and an embarrassment to his former colleagues. He's lonely and over the hill, with only a long-time 'phone 'romance' with call centre lonely heart, Sarah (Parker) to sustain him.

But when the agency tries to dispose of him violently, Moses clicks his knees into place and rounds up some of his old CIA pals for a gung-ho vengeance.

Everybody joins in, Malkovich shines in another of his nutter roles, there's plenty of action . it will pass the time nicely enough.

Star Rating: 3/5