Red 2 Review

Nobody asked for this...but that's okay.

Full, spoiler-free review by Isaac Handelman

Audiences would be forgiven for dismissing Red 2 as an utterly unnecessary sequel to a good-but-not-great 2011 action/comedy that hauled in a good-but-not-great gross. Summer sequels usually come in the form of superhero tentpole pics, and are judged harshly thanks to some truly fantastic follow-ups that have released in recent years. I walked in to Red 2 with trepidation, not expecting much beyond a mindless, forgettable action outing. I’m shocked to be saying it, but I could not have been more wrong in my pre-judgment of Red 2’s quality. It’s a thoroughly entertaining action romp that’s perfectly paced, well-acted, smartly constructed and of an immensely surprising quality.

It’s marketed as a sequel, but all you really need to know about the first Red going into this follow-up is that Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is an ex-CIA agent marked as “Retired Extremely Dangerous” (from which the titular “Red” is derived). While in the process of trying to settle down with his girlfriend Sarah (Mary Louise-Parker), Moses is called back into action by his ex-partner Marvin (John Malkovich) in order to stop those who are trying to get their hands on a Cold War-era weapon called Project Nightshade. Not much is particularly special about Red 2’s narrative, but its highly memorable characters mask this issue almost entirely.

Just a fraction of Red 2's strong ensemble

In contrast to many action films, Red 2 is exceedingly well-acted, with Bruce Willis and

John Malkovich displaying remarkable chemistry. Anthony Hopkins takes a particularly memorable turn as the eccentric Dr. Edward Bailey, Helen Mirren does wonders as a formidable MI6 agent, and, in what is perhaps the biggest surprise of Red 2 as far as its performances go, Byung Hun-Lee manages to break out of the usual generic hitman mold to craft a character that’s truly memorable.

And that’s what’s so fantastic about Red 2’s actors -- the actors embody their characters and invest themselves deeply in their roles, coming together to form an ensemble cast that stands tall among greats such as that of Ocean’s Eleven. The one weak link in the cast is Mary-Louise Parker, whose bizarre demeanor exudes the behavior of an annoying sixteen-year-old. It’s difficult to tell if the fault is more hers or the script’s, but whatever the issue it can be aggravating, though things do get marginally better with her character towards the end of the film.

In all honesty, though, Parker’s character is the only noticeable weak link in the film’s cast. Red 2 is an action film planted firmly in its comic-book roots; it embraces its over-the-top qualities in every facet of its execution, with loads of action scenes that are downright ridiculous (in a very good way), and a pumping score that melds flawlessly with the onscreen chaos into a seamless whole.

Subtlety isn't Red 2's strong point.

But Red 2’s flashy exterior would count for nothing did it not possess a creative spark, and thankfully, the film does. The film’s action is usually inventive and unpredictable, though certain scenes do start to trade creativity for the more traditional “explosions explosions explosions” approach, which can become a bit tiring. Thankfully, these moments don’t last too long.

Alongside the action, Red 2’s dialogue is quick-witted, with clever exchanges between characters and a few particularly memorable scenes highlighted by great back-and-forths. Red 2 is primarily an action film, but it doesn’t leave comic relief by the wayside. And that’s the thing about Red 2 -- it’s just so damn fun. The film maintains a paper-light tone throughout, despite its considerable level of violence and destruction, and never, never, takes itself too seriously. When it comes to sheer entertainment in its purest, most stress-free form, it’s no stretch to call Red 2 the complete package.

Though it doesn’t do anything particularly new in terms of its narrative, Red 2 has every element of a stellar action film refined to a tee, with highly creative bouts, fantastic set-piece moments, perfectly punctuated comic-relief and spot-on pacing. But alongside these highly effective elements, Red 2 serves as a brilliant showcase for the power of a strong ensemble cast, and for how much having a spectacular group of actors collaborating and playing off each other can bolster an experience -- even an already solid one. In terms of action, Red 2 stands alongside its effects-driven brethren and proves that a more traditional approach to the genre can still be utilized to great effect, only occasionally suffering from sensory overload. Red 2’s plot is forgettable, but with a strong coupling of memorable characters, strong performances, and sleek action, it’s surely the biggest surprise of summer 2013 thus far.