“Red 2” Good for a Few Laughs
By Skip Sheffield
“Red” was an amusing novelty the first time around in 2010.
Red stands for “Retired Extremely Dangerous” and that described retired CIA black
operatives Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich) and
Victoria (Helen Mirren) along with spy wannabe Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker),
Frank’s case worker.
The gang is back for “Red 2.” Frank and Sarah are now an
item and enjoying domestic life.
You can’t keep an old spook down. When Frank is approached
by Interpol regarding a portable nuclear device that was planted in Russia during
the Cold War, Frank can’t resist ringing up his old buddies and saving the
world once again.
“Red 2” is played for broad comedy. Director Dean Parisot
(“Fun With Dick and Jane”) seems to have encouraged his cast to mug and
overact. The master of scenery-chewing is distinguished actor Sir Anthony
Hopkins, 75, who plays a variation on a mad scientist named Dr. Bailey. Bailey
isn’t as grisly as Hopkins ’
most famous villain, Hannibal Lecter, but his potential for destruction is much
greater. Hopkins plays the character, who has
been in a London
loony bin for 32 years, with maniacal glee. That is what makes this retread so
much fun.
Another distinguished Brit who seems to be enjoying herself
is Helen Mirren as ace assassin Victoria. It is no longer surprising to see the
dainty, elegant Mirren wielding a giant machine gun, but it is still fun to
watch her deadpan expression as she calmly blows bad guys away.
John Malkovich has a great comic sense as well, playing a
kind of goofball sidekick role to the stoic stoniness of Bruce Willis.
Mary-Louise Parker has a greatly expanded role this time.
She looks like a modern-day Betty Boop with her wide round brown eyes and
enhanced eyelashes. As baby of the group at age 48, she too seems to be happy
to be in on the joke.
Less effective is Catherine Zeta-Jones as Katja, a faux
Russian spy with an eye for Willis.
Jazzing up the martial arts action is Korean actor Byung-hun
Lee as Han, a rival operative who grudgingly joins forces with Frank and the
gang.
There are worse ways to spend a couple hours. How much can
you expect from a series based on a comic book? Apparently “Red” has a lot of
fans. A Red 3 is in the planning stages.
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