Zoe Saldana in "The Losers"
courtesy of Warner Home Entertainment
“Not Quite A Loser”

The new movie “The Losers,” which has just been released to DVD, does not live up to its title completely. It is that rare kind of movie that if there is a sequel, and I doubt there is, it will probably be better than the original. That is because you barely get to know the characters in the film before it is over and really only get to know them during the credits. In a sequel you would already have that identification and loyalty established and the dangers to them in a second plot would mean more.

What you do learn in this film is that there is a group of soldiers who are on a mission for the CIA. The group includes the leader Clay (Jeffery Dean Morgan), the electronics guy Jensen (Chris Evans), the second in command Roque (Idris Elba), the sharpshooter Cougar (Oscar Jaenada) and the machinery guy .Pooch (Columbus Short). When their mission in Bolivia goes sour the group is on the run.

A mysterious woman named Aisha (Zoe Saldana) offers them a chance to get revenge on the man who had tried to kill them. His name is Max (Jason Patric) and he is one crazy dude. The group accepts the offer and the rest of the film is all about trying to get Mad Max.

The action in the film is continuous and the excitement is intense. Still there is something just a bit off with the whole plot, look and feel of the film. The basic likeability of the characters remains elusive until the very end of the film. Before that the audience is pretty much indifferent to them and their problems.

Morgan is okay as the lead but he shows no personality or warmth, and we all know he can do personality and warmth a la Denny in “Grey’s Anatomy.” Evans is the wise guy in the group and he is annoying for most of the film. Short plays the family man and that doesn’t really mean anything until the closing credits. Elba is strong enough to be the lead but he has to tone it down as he is playing the second lead. Jaenada plays the, well I don’t know who he is supposed to be.

Saldana seems to be in every other movie out of Hollywood these days. In this one she doesn’t disappoint. She is sexy and sultry from start to finish. Plus she can take care of herself in the action sequences. If there is one major asset in the film it is her.

“The Losers” is not a loser of a movie but it definitely could have been better. Maybe next time, if there is a next time, it will be. Still even this time out it is worth seeing for all the fights and explosions. It is everything an action film should be but it never excels in any one area. Bottom line, if you like action movies it is worth renting the DVD.

On the other hand, Kevin Smith’s latest movie opus is titled “Cop Out” and the title says it all. Smith’s career has not been very successful as of late. His last epic was “Zack and Miri Make A Porno” and we all remember that one. Right? Wrong! If he keeps on making these losers he will be more famous for his problems with the airlines than as a writer/director of films.

Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan star in the movie as New York cops who are partners. Willis’ acting career has been about as successful as Smith’s directing career. Can you spell “Surrogates”? Morgan on the other hand has been on a career high with his continuing role on “30 Rock.” However in “Cop Out” Morgan annoys while Willis vaguely amuses.

Jimmy (Willis) and Paul (Morgan) end up suspended without pay after they stage a trap for a drug dealer in New York. It goes badly and they take the blame. This comes at a bad time for Jimmy as his daughter Ava (Michelle Trachtenberg) is getting married in a few weeks so he needs all the money he can accumulate to pay for it.

Finding himself without a paycheck causes Jimmy to decide to sell his oldest Baseball Card, which should fetch eighty thousand or more. In a case of horrible timing the shop where Jimmy is selling the card is robbed while he is there. The crook, named Dave (Seann William Scott), takes the card as part of the heist.

The rest of the movie has Jimmy and Paul looking for the card. This gets them involved with a kidnapping and other crimes. None of this is particularly interesting and the comedy falls as flat as the dramatic sequences. Nothing in this movie works and the edge that Smith is supposed to bring to the film is buried under a lot of crude language and superfluous violence.

Adam Brody and Kevin Pollack have a few scenes as two other detectives. What their purpose is in the film is never explained. Seann William Scott is the funniest person in the cast and he does have some funny moments but they are too few. Most of the comedic screen time is given to Morgan who goes overboard in his acting and his comedy.

Smith appears to be going for a “48 Hours” type comedy but Morgan is no Eddie Murphy and Willis is no Nick Nolte. Plus Smith shows no talent for getting fun and funny performances out of them. They are swamped by the overly extended plot and the flat jokes.

It was rumored this was going to be an unusual “Cop comedy” that would be in keeping with Smith’s unique earlier films like “Clerks,” “Chasing Amy” and “Dogma” but that plan must have been scrapped early on. What ended up on screen is anything but edgy. Like the title of the movie Smith just copped out.

Finally we have “Degrassi High: The Next Generation: Season 9” on DVD. This Canadian TV series has proven to be very popular here in the States. In this new collection of four discs the group goes through a lot of changes as they get ready for the next big experience in their lives.

Another big plus for this DVD is the inclusion of a full length movie. Yes, “Degrassi Takes Manhattan” is included in the disc set. Members of the group head to New York to work, play and have adventures. You get to see it all in this movie that incorporates the cast of the TV series. Don’t miss it!
 

 

 

 

 

©2010 Jackie K. Cooper

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