Back in 2010, Joe Carnahan assembled a crew of top stars for a movie reboot of a classic 1980s action/adventure TV series, and right now, that very same reboot is one of the most popular movies on Netflix in the United States, just a couple of days after it first came to the streaming service.
That movie in question is Carnahan’s “The A-Team” reboot, which cast Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley and Quinton Jackson as a new version of the titular team as the elite operatives set out on a daring new mission. It was recently added to Netflix on Thursday, October 16; as of today (Monday, October 20), it’s sitting in seventh place in Netflix’s Top 10 movies list.
If you’d spotted “The A-Team” movie in the streamer’s charts and were trying to decide whether to stream “The A-Team” on Netflix, here’s a little more info about the action-comedy, plus a round-up of what critics had to say about this divisive watch.
What is ‘The A-Team’ about?
A-Team | Official Teaser Trailer (HD) | 20th Century FOX – YouTube
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This modern “A-Team” movie sees the four members of an elite Special Forces team — John “Hannibal” Smith (Liam Neeson), Templeton “Face” Peck (Bradley Cooper), Bosco “B.A.” Baracus (Quinton Jackson) and H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock (Sharlto Copley) — heading off on a new adventure.
After being framed and put away for a crime they didn’t commit, the group goes rogue, breaking out of prison and putting their unique skills to use trying to find the people who framed them.
“The A-Team” also features Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson, Gerald McRaney, Henry Czerny, Yul Vazquez and Brian Bloom, and features original “A-Team” actors Dirk Benedict and Dwight Schultz in cameo appearances.
Should you stream ‘The A-Team’ on Netflix?
(Image credit: Entertainment Pictures/Twentieth Century Fox/Alamy)
“The A-Team” movie probably didn’t have the impact that everyone involved necessarily wanted; it didn’t break the box office, and it’s not a downright hit with critics or fans, either.
At the time of writing, it’s sitting at 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, though the Popcornmeter audience score skews more positive (66%), with a consensus that reads: “The A-Team” assembles a top-rate cast only to ditch the show’s appealingly silly premise for explosive yet muddled blockbuster filmmaking.”
Reviewing for Rolling Stone, critic Peter Travers gave it a 2.5-star rating, saying “The A-Team” was “big, loud, ludicrous and edited into visual incomprehension,” adding “pity the fool who lets that stand in the way of enjoying ‘The A-Team’.
Empire’s Nev Pierce, meanwhile, offered a 3-star verdict, writing: “if you make the mistake of engaging your brain, you could fly, say, a tank through the plot holes […] But at least you know what you’re paying for: something as big on spectacle as it is short on sense.”
(Image credit: Cinematic/Twentieth Century Fox/Alamy)
Other critics weren’t nearly as kind; for THR, Kirk Honeycutt said “The A-Team” ‘seems nearly writer-free,’ criticizing it for lacking plot or character development, writing: “For all the firepower in any sequence, none of the heroes gets more than a bump on the head or clothes that need cleaning. Yes, a writer would only gum things up with suspense and character.”
In my opinion, it could be worth a watch if you fancy some throwaway thrills. “The A-Team” is okay fun, though don’t expect to have your socks blown off by this mindless action comedy. It boasts explosive action, sure, but it’s totally overblown, silly stuff. “The A-Team” has nothing else to offer other than spectacle and dumb banter, and I highly doubt it’s about to become a favorite of anyone checking it out for the very first time.
Not sold on streaming “The A-Team” on Netflix? We can still help you find your next watch. Check out our round-up of the best Netflix action movies or our definitive guide to the best movies on Netflix for tons more top streaming recommendations perfect for your next movie night.
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