RED 2 (2013)

Directed by Dean Parisot. Starring Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Anthony Hopkins, Byung-hun Lee, Neal McDonough, Brian Cox, David Thewlis, Garrick Hagon. [PG-13]

Sequel picks up a few years later when Parker feels like her relationship with Willis is getting a little boring; enter renegade agent McDonough, ex-NIS assassin Lee, demented nuclear physicist Hopkins, and a Russian rival/ex-flame of Willis’ (played by Zeta-Jones)—that should spice things up for the pair. The elements that worked best in the first RED (the playful tongue-in-cheek humor and the simple pleasures in seeing seasoned veterans doing light capering) lack spark this time—there are amusing moments, but not many. Some compensation is provided by over-the-top action scenes, including Lee’s grocery store brawl and Mirren blasting away at pursuers during a high-speed chase. Biggest disappointment is that aside from Lee, the new additions don’t provide much energy or enjoyment (the jealousy-provoking love triangle that arises with Zeta-Jones’ arrival feels especially labored). An okay time-killer, but the attention-grabbing moments are few and far in between.

54/100