It is likely that, if you were able to transplant The Losers release date from 2010 to 2020, the film would be a major hit (sadly, in 2010 it was not). A comic book movie that perfectly combines high octane action with liberal doses of comedy, it starred Jeffrey Dean Morgan (a superb character actor both before and after this film – including memorable stints on television series like Supernatural and The Walking Dead, as well as films like Watchmen and Rampage), Chris Evans (just one year before he really took off with his role as Captain America), Idris Elba (just as he was exploding on the scene with his excellent BBC series Luther – he would also make his Marvel debut the next year as Heimdall in the Thor films), and Zoe Saldana (a year after her breakthrough role in Avatar, she has exploded into superstardom by playing Uhura in the Star Trek franchise and Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel movies), it would be damn near impossible to unite a cast like this again without a hundred million dollar plus budget (for your information, this film had a twenty-five million dollar budget).
Following a CIA special forces unit, their leader is Lieutenant Colonel Franklin Clay (Morgan) – a man who looks like a 60s sex symbol (bespoke suit, no tie, three buttons undone, chest hair flowing); his best friend, explosives expert Captain William Rogue (Elba) – who is an aptly named moody wildcard; intelligence expert and computer whiz Captain Jake Jensen (Evans) – a constant kidder who thinks he is cooler than he actually is; their eyes and ears, Sergeant Linwood “Pooch” Porteous (Columbus Short); and sniper Sergeant Carlos “Cougar” Alvarez (Óscar Jaenada) – the strong and silent type.
On a mission in Bolivia, a spook named Max (Jason Patric – looking like he is having more fun as a comically violent villain than ever before – and only ever wears one glove – maybe he’s a big golfer?) sets them up. . . thinking they have been killed in the process. Clay, smart enough to know what has happened, throws their dog tags into the flaming wreckage, making them ghosts in the wind.
Stuck in Bolivia, Clay is approached by Aisha (Saldana), a mysterious woman looking for their help in the disposal of Max. She is the bankroll they need, and is able to get them back to the States. Attempting to track down the man who has ruined their lives, they must attempt the near impossible. . . for Max, who is nearly always accompanied by his ruthless bodyguard, Wade (Holt McCallany), is tougher to get to than the President.
Directed by Sylvain White (a frequent director of television – think Hawaii Five-O and The Americans), he has a unique style. Shooting at a breakneck speed and then slowing it right down (to either slow mo or a freeze frame), the visual style has a rhythmic flow that perfectly captures its comic book style roots. This, when combined with an engaging story, makes for a fun ride (one that plays into stereotypes in a kitschy, go for broke way). And, to return to comedy once more, there are numerous moments worth noting. . . but I will simply highlight one – Chris Evans, purposely singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” in an annoying way, sneaks his way into a busy office building. After successfully retrieving the tech needed, he is forced to work his way out in a most unexpected way – an improvised (and outright hilarious) sketch that brings together clever writing, Evans’ comedic chops, and surprising action to create what might be one of the most unique heist scenes ever to grace the silver screen.
A playful action comedy with an unbelievable cast, The Losers is anything but. Setting up perfectly for a sequel, sadly it never came – as it made less than thirty million at the box office. Despite this, it is a worthwhile watch for those who like their action fast and their comedy loose. So, go rogue by turning the volume to the max, that way you can sing along to “Don’t Stop Believing” while thinking about the possibilities of a sequel.