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The A-Team Review

Movies made from TV shows generally have a pretty dismal reputation, and not without reason. For every The Untouchables, there's The Avengers, I Spy, Lost in Space, The Mod Squad, and The Saint. While The A-Team is not a perfect translation of the original show, but fortunately it comes a lot closer to The Fugitive than Wild Wild West.

One of the problems TV-to-movie translations usually have is capturing the right "feel." The right chemistry between the actors is essential, and can often make or break the movie before the first line is spoken. In this, The A-Team shines. Liam Neeson gives Hannibal the proper authority and compassion to lead the team, Bradley Cooper captures the nonchalance of Faceman perfectly, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson does the impossible by playing a modern BA Baracus, and Sharlto Copley plays Murdock with the right mix of madness and competence. Rounding out the cast, Jessica Biel's Sosa manages to rise above the "eye candy" designation, Patrick Wilson gives Lynch the right amount of sleaze, and Brian Bloom's Pike had some of the best lines and best deliveries in the whole film (the scene after his capture by Lynch is worth the price of admission).

The story is set up nicely, giving us a good introduction to all of the characters, then jumping ahead eight years to where the main story begins. Even though this was done with a jump cut, it doesn't feel rushed because the characters work so well together - it really feels like they have been working together for years. That chemistry also helps us suspend disbelief during the over-the-top stuntwork. It comes dangerously close to crossing the line into outrageous on several occasions, but stays fun enough that you can accept it as entertaining. The only part that felt off to me was BA's character arc, but only because it felt a little short.

In short, if you were a fan of the TV series, you will likely enjoy this movie. It takes several cues from the source - including characters, plot points, and the right balance of humor and action - but updates the story to take place in today's world. Also, be sure to stick around after the credits to see some old familiar Faces (and Murdocks)!

Collector/Modeler Interest:
AMT's A-Team kit can easily be updated to match the movie version with just a few modifications. The wheels, mirrors, grille guard, sunroof, and rear windows are the biggest changes. Rumor has it that Round 2 tried to reissue the kit as a tie-in to the movie, but licensing fees prevented it. We may still see a "custom van" in the future, or you can try to pick up an existing kit through the secondary market.


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