THE LOSERS (2010) (**1/2)

Based on the Vertigo comic book series, the film is the better A-TEAM movie released in 2010. The backstabbed black ops team tale doesn't blaze new ground, but unlike the other A-TEAM film of 2010, it mixes violence, humor and some over-the-top action with a dash of character motivation.

Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, WATCHMEN) leads his black ops team into Bolivia to hit a high profile target. But in the midst of the action, the team discovers children at the compound. They decide to rescue the kids, but discover no one, even the team, was to survive the mission. The operation was being run by Max (Jason Patric, THE LOST BOYS), a powerful government spy who ruthlessly makes deals to defend America and his own self interests — the latter is his chief objective.

Stuck in South America, the disgraced team tries to find a way back to the States. Clay's right hand man Roque (Idris Elba, TV's THE WIRE) is losing his patience as a fugitive. Jensen (Chris Evans, FANTASTIC FOUR) takes the situation lighter, but he regrets missing his niece's soccer games. Pooch (Columbus Short, STOMP THE YARD), the transportation lead, worries about his pregnant wife. Cougar (Oscar Jaenada, THE LIMITS OF CONTROL), the sharp shooter, is the quiet type. One night, Clay is followed by the beautiful Aisha (Zoe Saldana, AVATAR), who he takes back to his room, which, in a battle to kill each other, ends in the hotel burning down and her offering the team a mission and chance to get back home. All they have to do is kill Max.

Like these men on the mission, each of the characters is a collection of characteristics. Clay is the noble leader. Roque is the disillusioned soldier. Jensen is the goofy comic relief. Pooch is the timid, smart guy. Cougar is the quiet killer. Aisha is the mysterious woman. Max is the vile criminal. And let me tell you the film constantly reminds us just how vile Max is.

Now these types can work well when they're put in ingenious situations. THE LOSERS taps into that when it's dealing with motivations of each of the characters, which can at times be at odds with each other. Where the story gets into problems is with the details of the mission. The action sequences are preposterous, but nothing like parachuting in a tank. However, they're not all set up logically. When the team steals a helicopter, the scheme is complicated, but works in a fun ingenious way. But then the siege of the armored truck pushes credibility with how its paced and staged. Clay and Roque pop out of a Pinto in traffic to shoot a gag canister into the street. Um, do they want to get caught? Aren't the people in the cars around them calling the cops right that second? Plus the key to pulling off such a daring daylight action is speed; the sequence seems like it takes forever to unfold.

The story develops some nice character dynamics between Clay and Roque and Clay and Aisha, but the goodwill it earns in those scenes are lost in scenes where Max demands a nuclear weapon and a motorcycle, the latter's purpose being only to be available for an outlandish action sequence that's trying to be iconic cool, but leaves the audience wondering if the motorcycle jumped a shark as well.

THE LOSERS is a B-actioner that's trying to tell a story, but can't settle on the tone. It's not a total cartoon, but get absurd in the wrong places. I'm always more critical of over-the-top action in films with a real world setting. It's a bit tongue in cheek and doesn't take itself too seriously, but lacks a satirical bite. The film presents twists, but one wonders why the characters didn't see them coming or prepare for them. The best I can say is that it's entertaining in a "well there's nothing else on" kind of way.