The A-Team (PG-13, 2010)

The good news is that the cast is top-notch, and old-school fans will enjoy all the little nods to the original A-Team -- from the catchphrases "I ain't getting on no plane" and "I love it when a plan comes together," to Hannibal's trademark cigar-smoking and Murdock's general lunacy. Jackson is no Mr. T, but he certainly looks the part and even sports "Pity" and "Fool" tattoos on his knuckles for good measure (he sadly does not say "I pity the fool," but perhaps that's for the best, considering Mr. T's negative reaction to the movie). Cooper is turning into the new Matthew McConaughey and spends a ridiculous percentage of the time shirtless (his pecs and abs deserve their own billing) and sunbathing. Neeson is a hard-sell at first, but he nails Hannibal's sense of humor and fierce loyalty to his men. The best part, though, was Copley's Murdock. The South African breakout star of District 9 brings the crazy in a hilarious, scene-stealing way. If you pay close attention, he even gets to revert to his native accent and even speak Swahili. Brilliant!

Now for the not-so-great news. This is not good enough to merit a sequel, even though it ends begging for another "episode." The plot isn't very compelling (but then again, the show always had predictable storylines); and Biel's lone female character is unnecessary eye-candy for male viewers (not that she wears anything but sensible suits; sorry guys!). Wilson and Bloom get bonus points for their amusing villains, but this is basically a two-hour excuse to see container ships, tanks, vans, and all manner of things explode -- not to mention the over-the-top stunts and gun violence that characterized the series. If you're in the mood for a high-testosterone, simple-to-follow, incredibly loud story, this is a fun and substance-less action flick. Be warned, you may not be able to stop humming the theme music for the rest of the day.