The A-Team

Almost everyone has heard of Mr. T and the A-Team. Almost everyone over the age of thirty remembers watching at least one episode of the popular 1980's show The A-Team, a story about four solders who were dishonorably discharged for a crime they didn't commit. Where this generation never truly got the chance to witness the amazing television show, it will get the chance to witness the awesome action packed movie.

The movie starts off "somewhere in Mexico" where we see three different people in three different situations come together adding a fourth along the way. This is the A-Team. From Mexico we go to the deserts of Iraq - 8 years and 80 successful missions later - where the four boys are to be set up for the defining moment of their lives. They are given a mission involving the retrieval of printing plates that have been used in the printing of billions of US dollars. They are the key in a crime that will frame them, get them stripped of their titles, and sent to prison for up to ten years. Escaping, it is their goal to catch who ever did this to them, and restore their names to glory.

Played by Liam Neeson (Hannibal Smith), Bradley Cooper (Faceman), Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson (B.A. Baracus) and Shartlo Copley (Murdock) the boys of the A-Team are played up fantastically. Sure their personalities - mainly that of Face and Murdock - are played up more than the t.v show ever dared, or played down - B.A. - more than the fans might want, it doesn't endanger the awesomeness that was loved by the past generation.

Liam Neeson plays the ever calm leader of the group, his voice providing that sense of stern but warm protection to the viewer, letting us know that he has a plan and he is willing to do whatever it takes to get everyone out. Bradley Cooper plays the player of the group acting calm and smooth like he was born to be the king of the world. Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson - this is his fist movie - plays the crowd favorite almost expertly. He was born to act impersonate Mr. T, and this roll proves it. Then there's Shartlo Copley, who plays the lunatic air pilot giving him a boarder-line Dana Carvey-as-The Master of Disguise feel. I personally didn't like Murdock in the t.v. series but Shartlo's interpretation quickly changed my mind.

But lets not forget the other stars shall we? Jessica Biel plays Charisa Sosa, a Captain who is demoted to Lieutenant after the terrible fiasco in Iraq, and also Faceman's ex-lover. She is willing do to anything to get her title back, and re-gain the respect of the elder council who demoted her. Brian Bloom plays the villain Pike, the leader of a group called Black Forest. When he is involved in the accident in Iraq the boys of the A-Team swear to show his true face to the public, along with his partner Lynch played by Patrick Wilson. Lynch is the guy that you love to hate and the really do hate through out the movie, and is played expertly by Patrick.

Although the t.v. show heroes fought in the Vietnam war, this movie - as stated above - takes place during the Iraq war. But the movie is filled with gun fights, plane fights, and crazy stunts - at one point the boys manage to fly a tank... just saying. The movie is fast pace and hilarious, filled with snappy lines given mostly by B.A. and Murdock. The movie is enjoyable for anyone young or old, fan or no fan, and it will make you want to see it again and again. For a personal opinion the movie gets a fantastic 4/4, with out even flinching.

So if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team. Because there is no plan B.