In 1984, the film world was given an iconic treat as several future stars shared the screen in a unique and stellar war-themed movie that saw a group of teenagers fleeing to the Colorado mountains where they were forced to regroup and use very limited resources to fight back for the place they call home at the start of World War III. It was the first film to ever be released with a PG-13 rating, and now, almost three decades later, a new generation is being introduced to the story (with much more current circumstances) in Dan Bradley's remake of the cult classic Red Dawn.
Featuring its own group of future (and current) stars, Red Dawn cautiously straddles the line between original and remake. While still paying homage to its origin, Bradley is able to craft a story that focuses on the current war situations, using them as a pedestal in which to build his own premise. And while it didn't go off without a few unneeded roadblocks, in the end I found myself mostly satisfied with what I was presented with... even if the film did wrap just over three years ago.
Everyone loves an underdog tale, and that's exactly what the self-penned Wolverines provide in Spokane. Sadly the film often fails to ignite interest in the actual ages of these characters, forced to act on their own in a desperate attempt to wreck havoc and thwart the plan of the invaders. The personal developments of each character helps combat the otherwise war laden story, giving viewers a group to connect with and, therefore, root for.
There were a few disappointing aspects, most notably when they forced a few of the original elements into this updated story. They were great in 1984, but with the changing of so many other pieces and their placement within this updated film, it came across as awkward and unneeded. They could have kept the original opening and done everything else differently and I'd have been happy. (Note: The opening is nothing like the original.)
Hemsworth, Hutcherson, Peck, and Palicki bear strong performances in this gritty film, and their chemistry helps it soar past its self created obstacles. The end result is anything but stellar, but thanks to an old generation of fans, an iconic coming-of-age-while-becoming-a-national-hero storyline, and a few very well crafted explosion sequences, Red Dawn is an action-packed adventure that should prompt anything but a retreat at the theater.
