Today’s quick review: The Losers. While on a mission in Bolivia, the Losers (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short, and Oscar Jaenada), an elite special forces team working for the U.S. government, are betrayed by Max (Jason Patric), a CIA bigwig with an extensive criminal empire and no regard for human life. Penniless, thought dead, and stranded in Bolivia, the team is approached by Ayesha (Zoe Saldana), a mysterious woman who wants them to kill Max in exchange for her help.
The Losers is an action film with a fun attitude and an ensemble cast. Based on the DC comic book, The Losers embraces the action genre wholeheartedly, from its larger-than-life villain to the team’s extensive history together. The action itself is decent but not stellar, with a couple of big stunts but nothing truly memorable. The script features a fair amount of comedy, most of it stemming from the Losers’ colorful personalities.
The cast is talented but misused. Jeffrey Dean Morgan leads the team as Clay, a character a bit too bland for the weight he is given the film. His conflict with Roque (Idris Elba), the team’s demolition expert, adds a bit of spice, but Roque himself lacks the depth to be all that interesting. The Losers has better luck with Jensen (Chris Evans), the team’s talkative tech expert, and Max (Jason Patric), the team’s comically villainous nemesis, but neither of them manages to steal the show.
For all that The Losers tries to be a slick, stylish action movie, it falls short of the mark. From its soundtrack to its characters to its plot, the movie never quite clicks the way it should. The problems are all subtle, little errors in judgment or execution, but taken together, they turn what could have been a snappy, entertaining experience into a mediocre action film.
Watch The Losers if you are in the mood for a stylish action movie with a sense of humor. While The Losers does not live up to its potential, it remains a fun watch for fans of light action. For a better take on a similar style, check out Red, 2 Guns, or The A-Team instead.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for enjoyable action with some missed potential.