Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent but quirky movie aimed at teen comic book fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Losers
What's the Story?
After a routine mission goes terribly wrong, a five-man CIA special ops team, led by Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), is left for dead in Bolivia. Worse, they have discovered that the mysterious, evil "Max" was in charge. Stranded and out of options, they choose to trust newcomer Aisha (Zoe Saldana), who promises to return them to the United States in exchange for the death of Max. The downside is that Max is very highly protected and virtually unkillable. Worse, hardly anything is as it seems, no one can be trusted, and THE LOSERS must rely on their heaviest firepower just to survive. Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short, and Oscar Jaenada make up the rest of the team.
Is It Any Good?
The Losers has the brisk, breezy energy of a good "B" movie; the pace never lags, and the action -- with the help of lots of tongue-in-cheek slow-motion footage -- looks terrific. The cast is immensely likeable, and they all seem to click with one another, forming a tight-knit group whose camaraderie is infectious. It helps that the movie kicks off with the group charging into a danger zone to rescue 25 innocent kids.
Jason Patric turns in an interesting, offbeat performance as "Max," the elusive and powerful villain, relishing his terrible acts and looking forward to a world wiped clean by war weapons. To be sure, the violence in the movie is strong, and maintains a sexy undercurrent -- but it all remains securely in the comic-book realm, making it a fun, if edgy choice for teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in this movie. Was it disturbing or thrilling? What factors contribute to making violent scenes more or less intense? Were there any scenes that upset you? Why or why not?
The movie contains some stereotypical images of women as "arm candy," or playthings for male characters. Why do you think the filmmakers included this element? Do you think male and female viewers will react differently to these scenes?
How important is teamwork to the group's success? What are the challenges and rewards of teamwork in your own life?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 23, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : July 20, 2010
- Cast : Chris Evans , Jeffrey Dean Morgan , Zoe Saldana
- Director : Sylvain White
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of intense action and violence, a scene of sensuality and language
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : September 12, 2024
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