Film Review: "RED 2" (2013).

"They're ex-CIA, but they're back in action" in RED 2. This action comedy film directed by Dean Parisot, written by Jon and Erich Hoeber, and based on the limited comic book series of the same name. It is the sequel to RED (2010). Frank Moses, a retired CIA agent, is approached by his colleague, Marvin Boggs, who wants him to track down a nuclear weapon that was smuggled into Russia.

In January 2011, after RED's success, Summit Entertainment hired Jon and Erich Hoeber to write a second installment. In October, Summit announced that the film was set for an August 2, 2013 release date and the film would "reunite the team of retired CIA operatives with some new friends as they use their 'old-school style' to take on new enemies in Europe." In February 2012, Parisot was hired to direct. In August 2012, it was announced that Red 2 would film in Montréal, Québec, Canada beginning in September. The city was selected because of a twenty-five percent tax credit offered by the province and because of its resemblance to European cities. By mid September, Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, and Helen Mirren returned to reprise their roles, with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lee Byung-hun, Anthony Hopkins, Brian Cox, David Thewlis, Neal McDonough, Steven Berkoff, and Titus Welliver as newcomers. Ernest Borgnine hoped he'd be around to reprise his role as Henry the records keeper in a sequel. In April 2012, in an interview, he mentioned there was talk about it over the years, and made one request to the producers; "I told them if they do it, I want to carry a gun this time." He kept in touch with screenwriters Jon and Erich Hoeber and would have had a major role in an early scene. However, when Borgnine passed away in July 2012, three months prior to the start of production, his scenes were re-written and featured an uncredited Titus Welliver. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and took place throughout London, England and Paris, France. In March 2013, Summit moved the film's release date to July 19, 2013.

The film stars Willis, Malkovich, Parker, and Mirren reprising their roles, with Zeta-Jones, Lee, Hopkins, Cox, Thewlis, McDonough, Berkoff, and Welliver. Well, while I'm sure the cast had fun phoning in their performances - I hope they've destroyed the records - I can't help wishing they were all doing something more interesting. They're old(er) and wise and well-preserved. They're kicking ass and taking names and blowing up the world along the way.

Enjoyable, but disappointingly tame compared to its ferocious predecessor. RED 2 is disposable. The movies that many of these guys made in the 1970s, '80s and '90s were bulletproof some of but this is a cynical exercise in settling for what is expected to be passable. Those hoping for a deeper, smarter, or more polished piece of action cinema: Sorry, but this franchise has pretty much established it isn't about that. However, the film is just entertaining enough to permit a third film. If only these steroids-packing seniors can coordinate schedules again.

Simon says RED 2 receives: