IN THE DAWN OF THE ‘80s, NBC Entertainment President Brandon Tartikoff approached producer Stephen J. Cannell (The Rockford Files, 21 Jump Street) with the subtle idea for an adventure series that would be a cross between Mission: Impossible, The Dirty Dozen, and Mad Max–with “Mr. T driving the car.” That show eventually became The A-Team, a hilariously macho series about adventuring mercenaries that ran from 1983-1986, and produced a generation of boys who worshiped lines like, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
The plan in 2010? To revive the charm and violent magic first conjured by Hannibal, Face, B.A. Baracus and Murdock in today‘s grotesque cinematic landscape. At first glance it would appear to be an easy transition; while it may appear quaint now, the original A-Team was a violent, explosive spectacle–the Transformers of its day. The question is whether or not the charm (another central element of the original) could survive.
The frustrating answer is both “yes” and “no.” Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper are certainly roguish enough as Hannibal and Face, while Sharlto Copley (District 9) acts sufficiently nutbaggy as Murdock, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as B.A. Baracus… well, he‘s doing the best he can in the impossible job of following Mr. T. And these guys do have chemistry together. The first half practically crackles with winky wit that pops up in unexpected places, and the cartoonish violence of the original plays surprisingly well in some of the over-the-top earlier scenes.
However the charm that dominates the first half falls victim to Michael Bay-style visual histrionics during the final reels, and the ensuing mess deadens any interest and good will they were so successfully building. Unlike many TV show reboots trying to refire the magic in this modern era, this A-Team showed some actual promise. Unfortunately (and I apologize in advance for what follows) this was just another plan that didn‘t quite come together. 
What’s interesting about your review is that it could have applied to any episode of the show, as well. I always excitedly watched the first half of the show and found myself pacing, wandering, even doing dishes during the “action” portion of the series (granting both undiagnosed ADD and the fact that dishes were one of my designated chores growing up).
With notable exceptions (in the works of directors like John Woo, Tsui Hark, Sam Peckinpah, Sergio Leone), aren’t most action sequences sort of the same?
Unless they are Michael Bay-style, then they’re supersized.
I have to agree with the above post. As an very female fan of “The A Team” when it began in ’83 (what can I say? I was a tomboy freshman, and I loved George Peppard in the Banacek reruns late at night), the show was a live action comic book, with an over the top plot, off the wall stunts, lots of stuff blowing up, and tons of fight scenes(and maybe some kissing by Face and some girl thrown in the middle). Although Murdock and BA would give comic relief, it did kind of run out of steam by the last 15-20 minutes of the show. Why wouldn’t it be the same for the film? This is the short attention span generation, the 43 minutes the show was on is just enough; a movie? Too long!
There’s already a better A-Team remake. It’s called Leverage.
Good pastiche of recent reporting and commentary on this remake. Keep combing the internet.
NO CAMEOS from any living cast member
of the TV original in this movie either??
Rest assured Peppard is NOT rolling IHG…
@6: Apparently, both Dirk Benedict and Dwight Schultz have cameos. [SPOILERS] Benedict is a convict with Face, and Schultz is a doctor in the Mexican hospital. I didn’t recognize either, and only learned of these cameos by watching the closing credits. George Peppard is dead, of course, but I was certain they’d work in Mr. T at least, maybe as B.A.’s dad.
Still, I liked the movie. It was much better than I was expecting. The camera absolutely adores Bradley Cooper.
I believe the A-Team and Transformers were contemporaneous.
john singleton?..ohhh.. boyz in the hood II.