The Losers aims to win big in theaters today

Right on the heels of the superhero movie Kick Ass comes The Losers, another action-packed comic book turned motion picture for movie fans to enjoy. The movie starts in the dense Bolivian jungle where an elite Special Forces unit of the CIA led by Colonel Clay are sent on a secret mission. Little did they know that they would find themselves double-crossed by a powerful and faceless enemy named Max.

As the mission ends, the team is presumed dead and their handiwork in the Bolivian jungles was declared as a rogue operation that was not approved by the agency. Vowing revenge and fueled by the desire to clear their names, Clay, along with his men Jensen, Roque, Pooch and Cougar, go undercover to wage war against their arch-nemesis. Together, they set off to find the ruthless, evil mastermind who is hell-bent on waging a high-tech global war.

The Losers is directed by Sylvain White and is presented by Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Dark Castle Entertainment, a Weed Road Pictures production.

Who are the Losers?

Playing the role of the renegade leader Colonel Clay is Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who is widely remembered for his recurring role as Denny Duquette in the hit television series Grey’s Anatomy. He also starred in the blockbuster motion picture Watchmen in 2009. In an article, he explained how he enjoyed playing "grey" characters that have more to them then meets the eye. He further described his character in The Losers as flawed, which is what made him enjoy playing the role of Clay even more.

From the onset, director Sylvain White knew that Morgan was the best man for the job. “He pulled up on his Harley and I knew instantly he was the guy. He’s got this very cool, mature energy about him, a kind of old soul quality that makes him a born leader. Jeffrey is very likeable, very approachable, but there is also a bit of a dark edge to him, which was something he was able to layer very well into the character of Clay as he spirals down into his obsession to take revenge on Max.”

In charge of demo and tactical is Roque, played by Idris Elba. Roque is an explosives expert whose weapon of choice is a knife. Although he has been Clay’s right hand man for many years, Clay’s undeterred drive to gain revenge begins to cause a rift between the two men.

Elba described his character as a no-nonsense type of character who does not let emotion get in the way of doing his job. Prior to landing this role, Elba starred in the thrillers Legacy,Taken, and Obsessed. He has garnered a number of nominations from various award-giving bodies including the Black Reel Awards, BET Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild. Besides acting in film and television, Elba appeared in several music videos and is crossing over to a music career as well.

Adding comic relief to the team is communications and tech man Jensen who is played by Chris Evans. Jensen is a computer wiz who has the uncanny ability to hack into any system that comes his way and was described by Evans as the “kid” in the Loser family.

This is not the first time Evans has taken on a role based on a comic book character. In fact, he is probably best known for his role as the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four series. He is also slated to take on Captain America in 2011. In 2009, Evans was named as one of the “Most Bankable Stars” in the prestigious Forbes list.

Columbus Short is Pooch, transportation and heavy weapons expert. There is no vehicle he cannot “rig, wire, fly, drive or commandeer”. Compared to the rest of the team, Pooch has the greatest motivation to get home, so he tries to keep a level head while trying to end their mission. On a personal level, Short said that besides the great storyline which at times left him laughing out loud, an important reason for him taking on this role was to be able to reunite with the director who had given him his first break with a leading role in the movie Stomp the Yard.

Rounding out the Loser team is Cougar, the unit’s long range shooter. As the team sniper, he is able to shoot from long distances with the most steady hand and accurate aim. The role is taken on by Spanish actor Oscar Jaeneda who enjoyed playing his character whom he described as the “strong, silent guy.” Jaeneda’s highly expressive face and presence landed him the job, as White pointed out that he needed a character that could act with his eyes. He was not disappointed, as he went on to say that Jaeneda brought the character alive in ways that not many could have done.

The Arch-Nemesis and the Femme Fetale

The voice behind the radio and the faceless enemy is Max, CIA handler with his own mission. Played by Jason Patric, he is the mastermind behind the double cross that left the Loser team as good as dead. Fueled by a desire to keep America as a top world leader, he would stop at nothing to make sure he meets this goal, no matter what comes in his way. This is the first time Patric plays a bad guy in a movie, which is actually why White decided to cast him as Max.

Armed with her own beef against Max is the mysterious operative who joins the Losers in their quest to haunt down Max. Though her motives remain unknown, the team takes her on with some hesitation. Playing the tough chick is Zoe Saldana, who recently graced the big screen as Neytiri in James Cameron’s 3D film Avatar in 2009. She also starred alongside Elba in the film Takers in 2010 and with Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003. She has also taken on several comedy roles such as in The Terminal.

Winners or Losers?

In one review, the movie is described as "coma-inducing" and "a smorgasbord of nothingness." Kirk Honeycutt described it as “an action film for ADD sufferers” while Robert Ebert gave it 3.5/4 stars and further went on to say that “The movie gets the job done, and the actors show a lot of confidence in occupying that tricky middle ground between controlled satire and comic overkill. It's fun."

The consensus however is clear: the movie’s saving grace is its comedic appeal. For this writer, the movie can best be described as action-packed with just the right blend of humor and heart to keep it light and fun. Definitely an entertaining film than many teenagers and comic book aficionados will enjoy. Further making the film interesting are the slow-motion and stylized effects during fight scenes. Plus, the integration of comic strips between scenes likewise keeps it fun.

The Losers opens in Philippine theaters on April 23, 2010 and is Rated PG-13.

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