Robert Schwentke
Red

So, the beginning is a blast because the romantic comedy vibe is unexpected. Bruce is a bit stiff and not very convincing but in the end, he almost fits the role of the lonely, still-horny retiree.

Then, plot twist and we dive into action, which is fine, it holds up. But the first creaks begin, and there you must make a choice: either you take it seriously and you're screwed, or you make peace with it and watch it knowing that you're watching something that shouldn't be taken seriously.

The latter you mentioned.

Well, having made the right choice, you overlook a ton of messed-up stuff, plots that don’t add up, twists that make you go why???, ballistic feats that even the best James Bond couldn't pull off, explosions that even the most inspired Maicol Bei couldn’t create, and you have fun.

I mean Bruce is stiff, my goodness he's stiff, you can see that in the action scenes it's like he lets out a sigh of relief “oh, do I have to brawl now? Go for it, that's what I know how to do!”, Mary-Louise Parker gives her all and is good, but the character is a bit poorly crafted in itself. I'm sorry dear Mary-Louise, I think you're great and awesome, just know it (I know you're reading me).

Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman are spot-on, professional, no more no less, I'm doing this for centuries don't give me crap I know how to do it, like "I come in, smash, bye!".

And then there's Malkovich, who for me is the ultimate in the film, he totally nails the role of the paranoid, manic ex-agent. He does it well and never gets tiring, it would have been easy to overdo it, but not him, he's always exaggerated but never OVERDONE. Bravo John, but really, what more can I say?

The rest are all good too, both action man Karl Urban and the former Soviet Brian Cox, who has such class (but again, what more can I say?).

The direction is careful, never pointless, always on point.

In short, you enjoy it, turn off the neurons and have quite a bit of fun, even when Bruce kidnaps the vice president of the United States, what are you going to do? Get all uptight? But really, if you look closer damn it…? Come on, don't do that! Even when he enters the C.I.A. headquarters like he's going to the gym, a bit like Jason Bourne (you're not the one looking for me, I'm the one coming to get you!), you can't just stand there being fussy, let it go. Turn off the neuron and enjoy the ride.

So kudos to you, Robert Schwentke, for being the director.

Then the second one came out, but I haven't seen it, bye.