've never been a big fan of "origin story" movies for movies that are already part of an established franchise. The way I see it, unless the movie intends on dramatically revamping the idea behind the franchise there's no real point in rehashing what the audience presumably already knows. Just get on with it. "The A-Team," the big budget action flick based on the 1980's TV show of the same name and directed by Joe Carnahan, is one of those rare origin story movies that doesn't really change the essential parameters of "The A-Team" franchise but still manages to be fun, action packed, and incredibly entertaining. "The A-Team" is the exception to the rule.

The flick starts off in Mexico, where we find Army Rangers Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith (Liam Neeson) and Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck (Bradley Cooper) engaged in some kind of rescue mission (it's unclear who needs rescuing. Hannibal is there to rescue Faceman for getting into a bit of a pickle after seducing a corrupt Mexican general's wife, or both Hannibal and Faceman are there to rescue that corrupt general's wife). After escaping the general's henchmen with the help of a fellow Army Ranger who just so happened to be in the area, B.A. Baracus (Quinton "Rampage" Jackson), Hannibal goes to a local mental hospital and finds renowned Army Ranger pilot Murdock (Sharlto Copley), who has the necessary skills to get them all out of Mexico. And then they get out Mexico (hilarious scene. "Alpha Mike Foxtrot" indeed).

Eight years later, we find Hannibal, Faceman, B.A., and Murdock together as a full fledged, official Army Special Forces team in Iraq, participating in various missions and helping train the Iraqi security forces. Under the command of General Morrison (Gerald McRaney. Yes, that's what I said, Gerald fucking McRaney), Hannibal's team has become the go-to team for the most dangerous and complicated missions. There are other special forces teams in the area, mainly the CIA backed team codenamed Black Force led by the douchebaggy Pike (Brian Bloom, also listed as one of the movie's co-screenwriters), but they're not as well respected or as cool. When local CIA leader Lynch (Patrick Wilson) shows up with a special mission to retrieve stolen U.S. currency plates and a truckload of counterfeit currency from Baghdad he doesn't want Pike, he wants Hannibal's A-Team. U.S. forces are not allowed to operate within Baghdad, but that doesn't stop Hannibal from accepting the challenge of the mission. Even after General Morrison tells him that the mission isn't a good idea and Army CID Captain Charisa Sosa (Jessica Biel) warns them to stay out of Baghdad Hannibal decides to go ahead and do it anyway. Liam Neeson is awesome as Hannibal Smith. He looks a little silly with the grey hair at first, but as soon as he lights that cigar and starts talking about making a plan it isn't silly at all. He's playing goddamn Hannibal Smith. He knows what he's doing. And he never once looks out of place (Liam Neeson doing an action movie based on a 1980's TV show? What the hell is that about? After about five minutes you don't bother asking because it doesn't really matter. He's there, smoking cigars, coming up with plans, and kicking ass). Bradley Cooper is brilliant as Faceman. He just oozes charisma and smart ass charm, which is what Faceman is supposed to be all about. His scenes in prison tell you everything you need to know about him (look at the TV in his cell). He also saves the performance of Jessica Biel, who really struggles as the Army agent charged with tracking the A-Team down (she's one of the movie's few down points). Biel doesn't exude much in the way of authority or competence. She doesn't come off as much of a bad ass. But when she's with Cooper's Faceman she fits in. You kind of get why she's there and what her dogged pursuit of the team is all about. If only she could be, well, awesome like Neeson or Cooper. She does look nice in a skirt and trench coat, though.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is pretty dang decent as B.A. Baracus. He's a giant bad ass with a mohawk that you don't want to mess with. You just look at him and you know you shouldn't mess around in his presence. He's able to stand next to the accomplished Neeson and Cooper and he doesn't look like an idiot or a second rate talent. And, this is most important, he says "fool" quite a bit and he doesn't sound ridiculous. Sharlto Copley is superb as crazy Murdock. He could have over done it and been completely off the wall but he keeps things dialed down enough so he doesn't overwhelm the other actors. He's still freaking crazy. He's the best thing about the "flying tank" scene.

Patrick Wilson and Brian Bloom are great as CIA agents Lynch and Pike. You're never really sure if you can trust Lynch, but as long as he's helping out the heroes you kind of like him. Lynch is still a major douchebag, though. The guy doesn't hold his own umbrella for Christ's sake. What kind of hooey is that? You never once trust Bloom's Pike. You know as soon as you see him he's up to no good. He's a great villain, though. The big scene in Germany features a bad ass tour-de-force performance by Bloom. There are a few moments where it actually looks like Pike is going to get the upper hand on out heroes because he's that damn dangerous. Great, great stuff.

And then there's Gerald McRaney as General Morrison. McRaney isn't known for his movie roles (he's pretty much been a TV guy for most of his career) but he's just as good on the big screen as he is on the small screen. He has several great scenes with Neeson (you really believe they're old war buddies) and you're sad to see him go the way he goes. It's not all that surprising, sure, but it's still sad. It's also kind of hilarious when you think about the following: McRaney is best known as Private Eye Rick Simon on "Simon & Simon," a classic show from the 1980's, and here he is acting on a theatrical reboot of a different 1980's TV show. Who the heck are they going to get to play Rick in the inevitable "Simon & Simon" movie?

Now, like I said, the flick does have a few flaws. Biel's performance is the biggest. She just doesn't fit in with the whole of the movie. Carnahan should have tried to get someone like Michelle Rodriguez or Dina Meyer to play Sosa. They would have been more believable. Heck, even Keri Russell would have been a better fit. And the movie's score doesn't feature the "A-Team" theme quite enough. There are hints of it here and there, and we get a good rendition of it over the end credits, but it would have been nice if there had been at least one, middle of the movie moment where the familiar music swells, sort of like how the Bond theme shows up in a Bond movie. And no one says "He's on the jazz." "I love it when a plan comes together" shows up at least twice, but no gets to be "on the jazz." That's a missed opportunity (maybe it shows up in a deleted scene on the eventual DVD).

There are three great cameos at the end of the movie. The first big cameo is that of a current, critically acclaimed actor who would definitely make for a great villain in a sequel (and it really is him. It doesn't quite look like him at first, but it is who you think it is). The other two cameos happen after the credits and are quite a treat for fans of the TV show. Neither guy has lost his touch, that's for sure. 

"The A-Team" is a great time at the movies. It's a big, bad ass, fun as hell action flick featuring about as good a four man main character cast as you're going to find. Hopefully, this isn't the last time we've seen Hannibal, Faceman, B.A., and Murdock in action. Hopefully, we'll be able to find them and hire them in the future. There are a lot of problems out there that need the kind of help that only the A-Team can provide. 

So what do we have here? Gratuitous roaming subtitles, pawcuffing dogs, gratuitous Liam Neeson with grey hair, gratuitous Liam Neeson with grey hair lighting a cigar, on screen character name bits, gratuitous Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, gratuitous iconic black van, major league ass kicking, tire bondage, face punching (ha), gratuitous Bradley Cooper, tattoo sharing, more ass kicking, barfing, gratuitous Sharlto Copley, gratuitous Sharlto Copley jumpstarting an ambulance with a defibrillator, a lightning bolt stitch job, van pancaking, some very cool helicopter stunts, plan making, gratuitous Alpha Mike Foxtrot, antifreeze steak sauce, gratuitous Jessica Biel, gratuitous Gerald McRaney, gratuitous CIA scumbags, fake ID making, classic B.A. making stuff out of other stuff, gratuitous "Braveheart" reference, a great action scene montage, air bag hooey, exploding humvee, a court martial montage, gratuitous prison scenes, a fat guy in a Meatloaf shirt, gratuitous prison tanning booth, plane stealing, an amazing scene involving a flying tank, Jessica Biel's legs, a great scene involving a skyscraper in Germany, hair coloring, a discussion about Gandhi, remote control SUV's, some spectacular car stunts, a huge dock catastrophe, a super press body slam, a current TV star cameo, and a great bit where they recreate the essential aspects of the TV show's opening, and two great cameos after the credits.

Best lines: "Where's my girl, fool?," "Same old shit, you choose how to flush the toilet," "If you ain't a thief I can guarantee you ain't no killer," "How's your day going?," "You pancaked my van, fool! I'm gonna kill you! You can't park there, it's a handicap zone," "I love it when a plan comes together," "If I broke every bone in your hand could you still do that?," "Doesn't 'Diablo' mean 'devil?'," "He's wearing body armor in the HQ, and that should tell you everything you need to know about the CIA," "This is bat shit insane. It's perfect," "Timing is everything, Face," "What you don't realize is now I gotta kill all y'all," "You are really tan," "Where's the mohawk?," "Don't worry, boys, turbulence has never brought down a plane," "Are they trying to shoot down that other drone? No, they're trying to fly that tank," "Yeah, this is about the right amount of cops," "Wow, that's awesome. That looks like 'Call of Duty,' doesn't it?," "Hey, final request, don't let this guy shoot me, please," "Overkill is underrated," "Okay, paintballers, time to go pro," "Face, what the hell was that?," "Close friends and bullets, they're never there when you need them," and "Let's have Hannibal make the plans next time."