The 1980’s was an interesting decade. The Soviet Union began to crumble, the Berlin Wall came down, MTV debuted and actually showed music videos, Ferris Bueller took a day off, and Michael Jackson was still black. In 1983, a showed debuted on NBC. The show’s opening said it all: “In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... the A-Team.” And with those words, one of the 80’s greatest pop culture phenomenons took off. Twenty-seven years and quite a few trips through development hell later, The A-Team is finally on the big screen.

 

Liam Neeson stars as the wrongly accused team’s leader, Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith. Bradley Cooper is his second in command, Lieutenant Templeton “Faceman” Peck. Mixed Martial Arts fighter Quentin “Rampage” Jackson plays the role made famous by Mr. T, Bosco “B.A.” Baracus, the team’s driver. Rounding out the team is Sharlto Copley of District 9 fame as H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock, the team’s mentally deranged pilot. All four actors manage to portray the characters made famous by other actors well, giving tribute to their past performers while paving new ground.

 

 

 

Neeson and Cooper do adamant jobs, with Neeson portraying the team’s leader idea man with ease, and Cooper pulling off his role as Face with the charm and charisma that are the character’s trademarks. Copley does the best job of the four, portraying Murdock’s craziness and wit with a stellar comedic performance. Jackson is the odd-man out by default, not being a professional actor; he’s still able to deliver his lines well and plays B.A. Baracus with a slight homage to Mr. T, without going into a full-blown Mr. T impression.

 

Jessica Biel plays an Army officer and former flame of Cooper’s who is assigned to track down the rogue team. Patrick Wilson plays a CIA agent who may or may not be on the A-Team’s side as the group goes on its mission to clear their names. Biel doesn’t do much besides being a love interest for Cooper’s character, but she manages to do her job. Wilson portrays the mystery intelligence agent well, with his performance coming off as a jerk who you love to hate.

 

TV shows being translated to the big screen are hit and miss with movies like Leave It to Beaver, The Honeymooners, and Dukes of Hazard being among those misses. But The A-Team is able to keep what made the show great while cutting down on the cheesier elements of the show; examples include eliminating the fact that the team of crack mercenaries never hit the bad guys, and actually explaining why BA Baracus, an Airborne Ranger, is afraid of flying.

 

 

 

The plot is standard boilerplate for action movies, involving stolen currency plates and lots of counterfeit money. But the plot, at times, takes a backseat to the action. As Neeson’s character says “overkill is underrated” and overkill is the name of the game in The A-Team. The action channels what the TV show did so well, with the team pulling off crazy plans and ideas with clockwork like timing. Some of the moments in the film can be a bit ridiculous, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing in this movie.

 

To sum it up: If you come into this movie looking for Citizen Kane, you will be supremely disappointed. If you come in looking for a fun action movie, with a great cast and funny moments, then this is the film for you. As a fan of the show, I’m already looking forward to A-Team 2.