Red 2: Movie Review

Aging former black-op agents, labeled as Retired, Extremely Dangerous, reunite in Summit Entertainment’s Red 2, the anticipated sequel to the Bruce Willis-led summer box office hit from 2010. Moving beyond our borders, Willis and his returning cast, including Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Brian Cox and John Malkovich, trot the globe in search of information about a red-flagged code name from their heyday, back during the Cold War.

Though bullets and punches incessantly fly, not much blood is actually shown. Still, caution is advised, as this movie definitely lives up to its PG-13 rating.

THE MOVIE IN A MINUTE

Retired CIA spy Frank (Willis) is ready to put his past behind him and settle down to live a quiet existence with Sarah (Parker). Problem is she’s itching for a dangerous adventure and won’t let Frank pass on the chance to get in the action when Marvin (Malkovich) shows up, warning them about an impending threat. Suddenly, Frank’s hope for living the quiet life vanishes when they become embroiled in a plot to recover a missing WMD, all while trying to elude the contract killers sent to eliminate them.

THE GOOD AND BAD IN RED 2

Red 2 follows in the tradition of its predecessor when it comes to comedy and action. Moviegoers can expect to laugh and be thrilled by this crime/action/comedy. If you’re a fan of the original movie, odds are you’ll be entertained by this sequel. The returning cast is great, as are the two big name actors that portray new characters in this comic book-based action flick, veteran screen actors Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

One thing that differs from the original is that this sequel has a problem with predictability. A few “surprises” were easy to see coming.

Rated PG-13 for “pervasive action and violence including frenetic gunplay, and for some language and drug material, Red 2 is too much for children. Like its predecessor, the stunt and prop departments on Red 2 went all out on choreographing fight scenes and stockpiling ammunition for the sequences of non-stop gunplay. For all of the fighting, there’s not much movie blood (likely keeping Red 2 within the allowed parameters of a PG-13 rating).

IN THE END

Red 2 will deliver good popcorn-movie fun and excitement for fans of the original. If non-stop action violence—though not bloody—does not interest you, Red 2 is not the movie for you this weekend.