# Let the A-Team countdown begin! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525 "2010-06-01T17:36:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/21 "2010-06-07T02:54:19Z")
Seeing as how Mr. T doesn’t even have so much as a cameo appearance, I think I’ll be sitting this one out. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/22 "2010-06-07T04:24:58Z")
My wife says she won’t go see it because she blames _The A Team_ for the cancellation of _Happy Days_. Since there is some truth to that, is The A Team responsible for _Joanie Loves Chachi_? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/23 "2010-06-07T05:00:02Z")
No reviews yet. That’s a very bad sign. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/24 "2010-06-09T13:48:16Z")
Yeah… so I won’t be seeing this film. It’s Wednesday, and only three reviews have been posted, none of which are from major publications (and two of which are negative). That can only mean that it wasn’t shown to the critics, and THAT can only mean that the movie sucks. Shit. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/25 "2010-06-10T13:23:34Z")
Just saw it. It’s pretty close to what the series was. There’s [A-team firing](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ATeamFiring) all over the place, and there’s plenty of kaboom. There’s two “Let’s build a thing!” sequences. The series wasn’t high art, this isn’t either. It’s popcorn. That being said, I didn’t see any major flaws. Well, apart from one ‘[viewers are goldfish](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ViewersAreGoldfish)’ flashback, but whatever. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/26 "2010-06-10T13:27:29Z")
Does anyone die? ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/27 "2010-06-10T13:52:59Z")
Some plot-important baddies do. Some henchmen may as well, but it’s not dwelled on too much. It’s very PG-13, and there’s two distinct instances of “motherfu_BOOM_” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/28 "2010-06-10T19:42:44Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Does anyone die? Apparently, [Mr. T has his gold lamé knickers in a twist about this very issue](http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jun/09/mr-t-the-a-team): > [@Mr. T](#): > > People die in the film and there’s plenty of sex but when we did it, no one got hurt and it was all played for fun and family entertainment. These seem to be elements nobody is interested in anymore. It was too graphic for me. I’ve no doubt it will do big business at the box office but it’s nothing like the show we turned out every week. Sir, you might as well complain that Glenlivet is nothing like a fresh wort. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/29 "2010-06-10T20:10:35Z")
A “reputable” [review](http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37619957/ns/today-entertainment/) is in. “Flat out fun” will do it for me! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/30 "2010-06-10T20:28:05Z")
Ebert, on the other hand, was not a big fan of it. > [@](#): > > ["The A-Team” is an incomprehensible mess with the 1980s TV show embedded inside. The characters have the same names, they play the same types, they have the same traits, and they’re easily as shallow. That was OK for a TV sitcom, which is what the show really was, but at over two hours of Queasy-Cam anarchy, it’s punishment.](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100609/REVIEWS/100609973) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/31 "2010-06-12T15:44:16Z")
I saw it last night, and pretty much loved it. I never watched the TV series- was too young when it was first on and never saw it in reruns, but the movie was a lot of fun. Lots of running around and shooting and big explosions, just like I was hoping for. Liam Neeson was great as the grizzled leader of the group. Although it was kinda funny him covering up his Irish accent with more gravel in his voice. Sharlto Copley was funny and awesome. I really like him and I’m looking forward to seeing him in more movies. Bradley Cooper was charming and frequently shirtless, which is a positive in my book. Rampage Jackson is obviously not a veteran actor but he wasn’t too bad. Some of the action scenes were hectic, but not so hectic that I couldn’t tell what was going on. At one point before the climatic battle Hannibal says “Overkill is underrated,” which is a pretty good summation of the movie. The plot didn’t always quite make sense, but you really shouldn’t be expecting it to. Overall, I would recommend it as a fun action movie. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/32 "2010-06-12T21:22:53Z")
It was a hopeless mess. It’s bad enough when a superhero movie tries to force A and B stories into one film (in the case of Spiderman 3, C, D and E stories as well,) but it just doesn’t work for these characters. Hannibal’s story: Friendship Face’s story: Love B.A.'s story: Conscience Murdoch’s story: n/a (He was purely comic relief here.) Team’s story: Parenthood Epiphanies and self-realizations are great but they need some time to develop and stew before the big reveal. In this movie, there was no time at all to develop 3 personal storylines along with all the action scenes. It also bordered on criminal to have Quinton Jackson have only 1 extended hand2hand fighting scene. Sadly, the attempt to give the characters depth was the best part of the film. The main storyline, which almost completely involved the backstory of the throwaway line from the show’s intro (“Jailed for crime they didn’t commit,”) was confusing, ridiculous, and made no sense at all. The story, in fact, was driven by the idea that military police are the stupidest, densest police in the world, with absolutely no idea how to gather evidence or even figure out the most basic of crimes. The whole machine-shop sequence and “plan” was stupid as well. It bordered on “made for TV” stuff, and I can think of several TV episodes (including from the original show) that were better, more clever, and made more sense. “Nonsensical” is a pretty good word to describe this film. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/33 "2010-06-13T18:54:57Z")
I had a lot of fun with it. I enjoyed the series, but wasn’t convinced it would be any good as a movie. IMO they kept the “feel” of the series, without it being too campy. Of course, leave your disbelief at home. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/34 "2010-06-13T22:49:52Z")
There was exactly one good moment in this movie, where for a brief second you get a glimpse of the 3D movie being shown to the mental ward patients, and one of the credits reads Reginald Barclay. The rest of it was awful. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/35 "2010-06-13T23:19:34Z")
My sister and I just finished seeing this movie and we both loved it. We felt that the movie did justice to what we we called a “live action comic book series”. Believe me, we don’t normally go to young male dominated action films, but she’s got a thing for Liam Neeson and we both decided Bradley Cooper is GORGEOUS!!! I liked that both of the villains of this film (Lynch and Pike) were worthy contenders for the A-team and had some serious charisma. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/36 "2010-06-14T01:11:50Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > There was exactly one good moment in this movie, where for a brief second you get a glimpse of the 3D movie being shown to the mental ward patients, and one of the credits reads Reginald Barclay. > > The rest of it was awful. Wait a minute - you’re a _nerd!_ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/37 "2010-06-14T03:56:47Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. T] People die in the film and there’s plenty of sex but when we did it [/QUOTE] What version of the movie did Mr. T see that there was plenty of sex in it? In one scene it is clear that Face had had sex with a woman and then he gets 1.5 kisses through the rest of the movie. I won’t say it is a great movie but it sold itself to me. The action careens off into the uber ridiculous but the tone was in the right place and I had fun with it. If the humor hadn’t mostly worked it would have been a dreadful drag. Also, as with many TV crime dramas, casting tipped the hand. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/38 "2010-06-14T04:19:17Z")
I just saw it. Definitely not high art, but if you go in expecting lots of explosions and a fun time, it doesn’t disappoint. The plot is kind of meh, but I wasn’t watching for the plot. MUCH better than the last time movie I saw purely for the explosions and fun, Transformers, which somehow managed to make a movie about giant robots from outer space excruciatingly dull. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/39 "2010-06-14T05:34:45Z")
Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. I was never a fan of the TV series, but my 12-year-old son had wanted to see the movie based on the previews. I had read such bad reviews for the movie, I thought it was going to turn out to be another “Nacho Libre-the things I do for my kids” situation, but I actually enjoyed it. It’s pure hokum and low-brow, but enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525/40 "2010-06-15T00:24:49Z")
The ending looked like an obvious plug for a sequel–I hope it doesn’t rely on stunts and explosions at the expense of the characterization. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-a-team-countdown-begin/541525.md?page=3)