Never retiRED

I saw the movie RED tonight, featuring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, and Mary-Louise Parker among a ensemble of notable others.  Strongly going to recommend this one - the film does a great job of combining a quick pace and explosive action with witty dialogue and humor.  Reminded me a little bit of Lucky Number Slevin in its style (not to mention Willis and Freeman staring in it), but with better timing and more compelling cast of characters.

If there is one complaint I have though, its that some of the characters are just underdeveloped for the stars playing them - Freeman's character, while central to the plot, almost feels like a cameo, and Parker's character is such a passive female role and so foreign to those of us familiar with her from The West Wing and Weeds.  Willis's character, while the protagonist of the tale, does feel a little too familiar at times - while a bit softer than "Butch" from Pulp Fiction, I was waiting for him to have to go back to his house to pick up his father's watch off off the kangaroo on the nightstand.  Malkovich, however, steals almost every scene he's in - his delivery of the quirky comic relief is very entertaining and helps to make sure the movie never takes itself too seriously.

But all in all, it's an enjoyable ride for just under two hours that will leave you quite entertained.  If you can still find it in theaters, go catch it.