The A-Team - The Movie

In the 1980s, "The A-Team" was one of the most successful US series in German early evening programming. To this day, Hannibal Smith and his men enjoy great popularity, especially in Germany. No wonder, then, that the team have now made it to cinemas in an action-packed remake.

Col. John "Hannibal" Smith (Liam Neeson) and his team, Templeton "Face" Peck (Bradley Cooper), B.A. Baracus (Quinton "Rampage" Jackson) and "Howlin` Mad" Murdock (Sharlto Copley) have been among the U.S. military's most successful elite troops since their first spectacular mission. But then the four are lured into a cleverly laid trap that results in the A-Team being innocently accused of a crime that not only gets them kicked out of the military, but also straight to prison. But of course, the A-Team doesn't let a little thing like that stop them. And so, after spectacular prison escapes, the elite squad goes all out to prove their innocence and nail the real mastermind behind the conspiracy. After all, Hannibal wants to be able to say again at the end: "I love it when a plan works"...

In principle, "The A-Team - The Movie" doesn't tell very much more than the story that has always been covered in short sentences in the opening credits of the series. So not much content or even depth should be expected in the movie version from "Smokin` Aces" director Joe Carnahan. Nor is his 2010 version of the characters dreamed up by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo and their backstory quite as charmingly naive as it was in the TV series. The modern A-Team lets it crash clearly more violently and more hectically, with which not every fan of the 80s series will be able to make friends.

And nevertheless the film can be regarded under the bottom line only as successful. Because Carnahan's handling of the characters and with some indispensable elements of the series is definitely concerned with satisfying the fans and in some moments even really endearing. With the cast, the makers have also shown a good hand, even if it was actually clear from the outset that no one can hold a candle to the original actors. But even if Liam Neeson is not quite as cool as George Peppard, Sharlto Copley (known from "District 9") is not quite as lovable crazy as Dwight Schulz and Quinton Jackson is just no Mr. T., so all actors do their thing really well. Bradley Cooper in particular, following in the footsteps of Dirk Benedict, does a damn good job as the ladykiller Face.

Lots of action and wit make "The A-Team - The Movie" enjoyable popcorn cinema. Particularly amusing should be for spectators from Frankfurt to see their city in the film times from completely new sides. Or did you know that the Frankfurt branch of the CIA is located in the Messe area? Or that the main train station looks like it is in Cologne when seen from the air? Or did you know that it is possible to see the mountains from the tracks of the main station? At such moments, which also include a news channel running in the background showing Frau Merkel and the discreet caption "The Latest News", the film also reveals a certain naivety that is almost touching if you don't dismiss it as terribly ignorant.

But realism and authenticity aren't really present here anyway, and probably not necessarily intentional. Rather, the film aims to be fun, to give its viewers plenty of action, and to present beloved characters in a slightly new light. And despite all justified criticism, the makers have succeeded very well. Therefore: for fans of the series and all who like light-hearted action cinema, absolutely worth seeing!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp