The Losers Review

• 29th Sep 2010

Jeffrey Dean Morgan leads this likeable team of heroes in this madcap action romp. An elite group of soldiers find themselves breaking the rules on a mission to save a group of children. Having done the right thing their world is turned upside down as they find themselves in hiding, being hunted by those that had originally employed them. The only way to clear there names is to find these people first!

The tone of the film is pitched between over the top comic action with some dark comedy thrown into the mix. It’s a mix that works well but you wish had been just that little bit edgier, darker and grimmer. Yes folks this is a decent stab at a comic book adaptation that should have been more for the adult audience and not toned down for the teenys.

It is still worth your while, don’t you worry, and it is the pace and cast that really make it work. Morgan proving that he is ready to take on a lead role. Although this is a step up from his Watchmen supporting act; this is still a large cast of leads. Morgan should now be looking for that leading signature role for which to further define his film career.

Joining him are Idris Elba (another great character actor who needs to be doing bigger things with his career) and an impressive Chris Evans (clearly going up against Ryan Reynolds for who has been in the most comic book franchises. He already has Fantastic Four under his belt and Captain America is on the way). Zoe Saldana (who apparently has not stopped working for the past few years) adds more credit to her rising star status as a femme fatale who give the group a run for their money.

The film itself is solid Friday night entertainment. It’s a shame it did not do better at the box office as there is room for much improvement here in a sequel that may never happen. Then again, that is no reason to give up hope. In a year full of action films The Losers did not bottom out in terms of quality.

In the extras there are a few looks at the adaptation and on-set making of the film. There is also a commentary from the creators of the graphic novel which is fun enough if you are passionate about the material.

The Losers is out on disc on 11th October.

Steven Hurst