Greg Vellante
Correspondent

A mission must be completed. A plan is put into effect. In the process of said plan, millions of dollars worth of destruction takes place as the good guys try to conquer the bad guys. Stuff blows up. Guns fire. People die.
Sound familiar? “The A-Team” is.

Unfortunately, the sad irony when Liam Neeson takes on the role as Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith, lights up a cigar and states the famous line “I love it when a plan comes together!” is that “The A-Team” is exactly, and unfortunately, just that; a plan, a poorly executed plan.

Just because the film follows the universal action formula to a T doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining. It is, at times, yet what it makes up for in cool looking explosions and action sequences, it lacks in storytelling ability and consistency.

Joining Neeson in this clustered film based on the 1980s television series are Bradley Cooper as Lt. Templeton “Faceman” Peck, Sharlto Copley as H.M.

“Howling Mad” Murdock, and UFC fighter Quenton “Rampage” Jackson as Bosco “B.A.” Baracus.

Neeson has scattered moments of amusement, yet Cooper and Copley steal the spotlight in nearly every scene they’re in. Cooper, with his cocky charm, and Copley, with his droll insanity, give the film a bit of much needed character relief when the action sequences cease to entertain and begin to exhaust. Jackson is the odd man out, and should seriously consider sticking to UFC, as his performance merely comes off as a bad Mr. T impersonation.

Despite the frequent laughs and moments of wow, “The A-Team” ultimately becomes nothing more than a memory. With the feel of a comic book and the pulse of a dumbed-down blockbuster, the movie races into full gear directly off the bat and never takes the time to slow down and analyze where it wants to go in terms of story.

“The A-Team” is action sequence after action sequence, blending together into a mindless blur. Is it even worth explaining the plot? For the audience this film is aiming for, it doesn’t matter.
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Greg Vellante is a graduate of North Andover High School who is currently attending UMass Lowell.