“Retired Extremely Dangerous” RED, directed by Robert Schwentke, is a fun filled action-comedy. Once the trigger is pulled the action is fast and the dialogue entertaining. Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren, four special agents, loved life before retirement and boredom. Thanks to a series of unexpected events, they suddenly and with relish jump back into their old roles as black operatives. Coming out of retirement to save themselves from a treacherous assassination plot has never been more invigorating – even taking a few bullets is part of the adventure. Not sure that older actors in another CIA movie would be an easy box office sell, producer Lorenzo di Boneventura had to shop the script around Hollywood for several years. Now he has box office results proving that a talented cast, a well-written script, humor and great cinematography are what people go to the movies for.

Bruce Willis (Frank) is finding retirement difficult and boring. He strikes up a telephone romance with Sarah, a government employee (Mary Louise Parker) in the pension office as one way to fill his tedious days. Intrigued, he even tries reading the romance novel she recommends and they set a date to meet. Always alert even in retirement Frank foils a sudden unforeseen assassination attempt on his life. Frank, the covert operative is suddenly fully engaged again doing what he loves. Who is trying to kill him and why? The assassins seem to be very well organized and equipped with every weapon and explosive imaginable. Whoever they are, they will be back. In the ensuing entanglement, the unsuspecting Sarah is now also in danger. Sarah and Frank’s budding romance is spiced with abduction, espionage and Frank’s peculiar but capable friends.

Frank alone is not indestructible and he needs the backup of his most trusted allies. Morgan Freeman (Joe) has been languishing in a retirement home counting the days. The killers have his number too and with seamless skill and cunning he escapes to join Frank. Frank makes a visit to yet another old colleague John Malkovich (Marvin) whose extremely eccentric paranoia makes for the funniest moments in the movie. The final operative to be brought out of retirement is Helen Mirren (Victoria) who packs heavy-duty artillery under her elegant country home tea service. She confesses that leaving the old life behind has been difficult and has been moonlighting to carry out a contract or two. With heavy weaponry in tow, they embark on a well-planned counter attack against the unknown enemy. Shot in Toronto, Canada, that doubles as Chicago, this film is an entertaining romp with a team of experienced players. Early retirement? Forget about it!

-Moira Romano