Jon & Erich Hoeber have their hand(s) on the pulse of current affairs. Wikileaks has been the hotbed for news outlets for the better part of the past few years. So much so that a documentary, “We Steal Secrets”, has been made (which I reviewed on my podcast, Film Rave *cheap plug*). Since their story revolves around ex-CIA agents, the Hoeber brothers wisely incorporate the anonymous secret information outlet as a plot device.
That device being the release of a government file on “Nightshade”, a covert operation centering around a highly dangerous nuclear bomb. That always seems to be the case in these films. The article links two of our protagonists, Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) & Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich), to the operation, making them wanted men. Hot on their trails is a ruthless government official played effectively by Neal McDonough.
He’s not the only one on their trails. Han (Byung-hun Lee), a former partner of Moses turned hitman, takes their bounty and tracks them all over the globe. Hong Kong, London, Paris, Russia; you name it, they’ve gone there. After awhile this feels more like an expensive vacation for the cast and crew than it does an action film. I’m all for various locations, but this is taking it too far.
Tagging along for the ride is Frank’s girlfriend, Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker), who desperately wants to be in on the action. Frank is overprotective of her (more out of fear) and tries his hardest to keep her lying low. It’s Marvin who constantly helps her out by sneaking her along with them and even giving her a gun. This leads to a scene where Moses freaks out, saying she can’t handle the gun, which prompts her to grab the gun and accidentally set it off.
That scene is played for laughs and, admittedly, it got a chuckle out of me (more in part because of the actors’ reaction). My issue with this type of humor is that it becomes too cartoonish and demeaning. I liked the first “Red” and won’t deny that it was present there. But, it wasn’t as forced. Dean Parisot takes the material found in the Hoeber brothers’ script and cranks it up to eleven. It starts out amusing, then becomes an assault. It doesn’t help Sarah becomes undermined until the end, having to act like a child in certain scenes.
Another problem with the script is that it’s overwritten. Too many characters appear, with them disappearing out of the blue. Victoria (Helen Mirren, once again stealing the show) naturally shows up, interestingly being hired to take out Boggs & Moses. She agrees, but winds up helping her friends. They discover that the leaked document traces back to The Frog (David Thewlis), an intelligent terrorist who is an auteur in wine. They trace the file to him thanks to a stain that was found on the document, I shit you not.
But wait, there’s even more characters! Miranda Wood (Catherine Zeta-Jones) shows up to help out her former flame in Moses, which creates tension between her and Sarah. The first thing she does is stick her tongue down Frank’s throat. This prompts Sarah to do the same to other men, including The Frog, when going undercover and/or in an interrogation. It’s a weak running gag that finally elicits a huge laugh near the end (once again thanks to the actors’ reactions).
We discover that “Nightshade” is all linked back to Bailey (Anthony Hopkins), a former intelligence officer (I believe) who’s been locked up in a mental institution for the last thirty-two years. He’s on the I.C.E. list, which stands for “Incarcerate, Can’t Execute”. When we meet him, he presents himself John Nash from “A Beautiful Mind”, essentially. Do to being heavily drugged and a bit over the edge, he’s not the best of help, but he’ll do.
Parisot does his best to balance all of these characters into a cohesive story, but expectedly tumbles. It’s very easy to forget who’s motive is what, especially when characters constantly take 180 degree turns. Some do it quite a few times, prompting in many 360 turns, which just feel pointless. I felt bad for Han, as his character deserved more. That and his action sequences were the most entertaining.
Speaking of action sequences, they are well staged here, much like in the first. As mentioned, Han’s scenes are the best, thanks to Lee’s incredible martial arts maneuvers. They’re also littered with comedy, including one scene where Boggs cuddles with Moses during a shootout (again, it works thanks to the actors). I’d like to say that, if that’s all you’re coming for, you’ll be pleased, but I think you’ll be too overwhelmed to fully enjoy them. That and there’s nothing exclusively unique to them. They’re generic action sequences that would be more entertaining in a better film.
Oh, I forget to mention that Brian Cox returns as Victoria’s love interest once again. That’s how overloaded this film is. Had Morgan Freeman’s character not died in the first, he’d surely be getting lost in the shuffle as well.
Final Rating: C+