Yeah, this is probably a couple of weeks late, but given how this film is doing at the box office, I’m guessing not a ton of our readers have actually seen it.  I haven’t heard much favorable about The Losers, honestly, with most reviews pretty much falling square on the “mediocre” end of the scale.

Based on the comic of the same name, written by Andy Diggle with art by Jock, The Losers tells the story of an elite military unit that is framed for murder, who fakes their deaths to get revenge on the man who did it.

I admit to not having a ton of familiarity with the comic, but I do know that it has it’s fans, and I actually do enjoy other work by Diggle and Jock.  So I came into the movie without a bias based on source material.  Still, the trailers for the film made it seem like a lot of fun, and it seems to be the first of a couple of films coming out this year that look like a throwback to the kind of action movies I grew up with.

But does that make it any good?  Check out my review after the jump!

I waited a couple of weeks to see The Losers, primarily, because, while I was interested in it, nobody else really seemed to be.  I finally got the chance to go out and see it (love those cheap showings) and took advantage.  While the film wasn’t exactly a stinker, I have to admit, I’m kind of glad I didn’t pay the full ticket price to see it.  What cracked me up is that I saw a trailer for The A-Team right before it, and they appear to, essentially, be the same film.

The story of The Losers isn’t exactly original, but the film knows this and tries to rely on the strength of its actors.  Unfortunately, its main actors don’t really live up to the task.  Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who’s work I’m only really familiar with from “Supernatural,” is just okay as the lead. Sure, he’s cool, but he’s not entirely charismatic.  Looking bored doesn’t always make for being a badass, and the few moments where he lets loose and have fun are his best.  Zoe Saldana is a pretty face, but doesn’t do terribly much other than act sexy.  Really, the strength of the film are in some of its bit players – Columbus Short, Oscar Jaenada, and Chris Evans, who steal the film and are great every time they are on screen.

Of course, the one main thing dividing people is the performance of Jason Patric as Max, the villain.  Yeah, it’s a bit over the top, but really, the entire movie is, so it didn’t bug me as much as it seems to bug other people.  In fact, I think he actually had some decent lines.

So when you have a film without an interesting story and with main actors who aren’t entirely captivating, surely the action is at least good, right?  Well, I have to admit, there are definitely some well-filed action sequences in The Losers, but nothing you haven’t really seen before.  Still, they are definitely the film’s shining attribute, with plenty of cool things going kablooie.

Another fault of the film is the ending – without going into too much spoiler territory, the film really feels entirely unresolved – sure, the main bits are, but if you think a little about it, there’s still a few open ended questions that could have been wrapped up in an extra minute or so of dialogue.

Still, if you get the chance to check it out on DVD, then I’d say that The Losers is mildly recommended.  It’s a fun action film, if nothing you haven’t seen before (and might see again later on this summer too).