Director: Sylvain White
Cast: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Óscar Jaenada, Columbus Short, Holt McCallany and Jason Patric.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Category: DVD
Rating: B+
An adaptation of DC Comics comic of the same name, “The Losers” is an outrageous and often times nonsensical action flick that’ll rally audiences up with each and every frame. Directed by Sylvain White, the filmmaker behind “Stomp the Yard,” “The Losers” follows a rag-tag group of U.S. special ops turned mercenaries who seek revenge on the person who double crossed them but also settle a score that’ll involve them again being inundated into society.
Written for the screen by James Vanderbilt, screenwriter of “The Rundown” and “Zodiac” and Peter Berg, filmmaker behind “Friday Night Lights” and “Hancock,” “The Losers” isn’t the atypical action film or comic book adaptation for that matter. Heavy of ridiculous action scenes and comically driven performances “The Losers” greatness comes from its outrageousness, which though might be considered odd by some, the film really works on a level that is both fitting and entertaining.
Unlike other comic book screen renderings including “The Dark Knight” and “Watchmen” just to name a few, “The Losers” isn’t at all solemn in its tone. This film is rip-roaring and stylistic in terms of its non-stop folly. The film takes itself serious, when it needs to be, but for the most part it’s the films crazy execution and elaborate action sequences make it worthwhile. For example what sort of action film sees an entire island totally destroyed and/or an armored car lifted from the streets of LA by a helicopter. Because of these sorts of crazy action frolics that make “The Losers” stand out against other films of its comic variety.
Featuring standout and surprisingly laudable performances by Jeffery Dean Morgan, Chris Evans and Jason Patric, who stars as the films chief antagonist, “The Losers” shaped up to be one of the better action romps this year and furthermore one of the more entertaining comic renderings to be produced. Considering the film did lack some consistency in one of the film major plot twist and even that of its lack thereof characterization “The Losers” still works to entertaining limits. This is one comic adaptation is certainly no loser.
Review by Chanel Mack