RED is the best colour for an action movie

What do retired folk usually do when they give up their job and decide enough is enough? They usually travel, take up hobbies or have a mid-life crisis. Well then what do CIA agents do when they are told time is up you are no longer needed and retirement is your only option? Well we get to see exactly what they would do in the hilarious action/comedy movie "RED." Throw in hard as nails action man Bruce Willis. Add some crazy in the form of John Malkovich, then add a pinch of Morgan Freeman and don't forget to sprinkle with some Helen Mirren and you have all the ingredients to making a successful and hugely enjoyable movie. This movie for me was more than I expected and let me tell you I wasn't the only one in the cinema who joined this group for a crazy ride. But I better hold up as I need to explain the movie. I am just so pumped from this film. It's awesome. Let me begin.

Frank Moses is an ex Black Ops secret service agent who has taken up the life of retirement. He wakes up every morning, puts on his bathrobe, takes his trash out, does a bit of exercise and watches the clock tick away on his life. The only joy he seems to get is calling up the social security office and talking to his favourite operator Sarah (the hilarious Mary-Louise Parker). He starts to embrace her chatting about books and life in general, destinations to visit etc. Frank wants to meet Sarah and lets her know he is going to be in town the following week. This is where the fun begins. Waking up early in the morning, Frank stumbles down the stairs only to realise a group of agents are out to get him. With his house now fully destroyed (in one of the most over the top action scenes) he heads out to get the help of Sarah. It seems someone is out to finish Frank off from a previous mission and hot on his tail is CIA agent William Cooper (Karl Urban) with direct orders from someone in a higher position to eliminate Frank. With Sarah in tow, it is time for a bit of extra help from his old pals Marvin (the amazing John Malkovich), Joe (Morgan Freeman) and Victoria (Helen Mirren). It is with their help he is going to find why they are after him, and why it is connected with a murdered journalist, the American Vice President and an arms dealer (Richard Dreyfuss).

This movie is why I love cinema. It is extremely well done, and really I couldn't wipe the smile off my face at the end. All the acting is tops. I can't single one person out. Bruce Willis was perfect as the soft spoken, but highly dangerous Frank. John Malkovich was so crazy and out of this world, you couldn't stop laughing (the pink pig bit was a particular favourite). Morgan Freeman showed his gentle but tough side, and let me say the surprise act was Dame Helen Mirren. Gone are shades of the Queen and in comes a tough ass chick who could give women and men half her age a run for their money (and let me tell you there has never been a cooler chick to have a machine gun in her hand). The director Robert Schwentke should be pleased with his final product. Coming back after such a stupid movie (The Time Travellers Wife) he has made a movie where audiences will love every minute of it, from the sharp comedy coming out of all the actors, or the pumping soundtrack which adds to the excitement, or the over the top (and I really do mean that) action sequences he couldn't have changed a thing for myself to enjoy this movie anymore than I did. He not only showed how tough CIA agents are, but also that it's never too late to find love, never too late to still enjoy what you love in life and to always embrace it.

I can't think of a single moment where I didn't love this movie, and I'm not going too. I have seen a lot of movies this year, but too me it's like Hollywood has woken up and gone, lets make over the top action movies fashionable and fun again. No wonder they were able to line up such a talented cast for this movie. Everyone looked like they were having the time of their lives in it especially Mirren (she looked a little too comfortable with a machine gun, but she sure looked amazing with it). RED to me set out to do what is was supposed to do. Make the audience just have fun and enjoy the role with these retired CIA agents and it worked. I for one want to see these guys back again. In my mind now, CIA old retired agents seem like the best kind to make a movie about. RED is out now. 9/10