Red 2

"It couldn’t be, could it? A sequel that surpasses the original? The Retired and Extremely Dangerous crew are back – well, most of them – and this time they’re older, wiser and funnier. So is the film. Loosely adapted from Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner’s graphic novel, Red 2 has a better story, punchier action scenes and a wittier script. Whereas the first film seemed to find its cast of former golden oldie CIA operatives hilarious in itself, Red 2 works a little harder for the laughs."

"An obligatory sequel that can't quite recapture the sly, laid-back pleasures of its cheerfully ridiculous predecessor."

"Returning screenwriters Jon and Erich Hoeber have penned a surplus of minor melees and major set-pieces."

"As in the first film, the seasoned-pro cast provides the few fleeting pleasures to be found."

"Cars careen, lazily written infiltration plans are executed, and the violence is plentiful and toothless."

"Like the first one, it's played for laughs in-between bouts of mayhem; most of the gags are off-target, though Mirren's Nancy Mitfordesque assassin gets a pretty good kill ratio."

"Perilously close to a formulaic romantic comedy... Viewers who show up looking for over-the-top mayhem may suspect they’ve wandered into the wrong film."

"Not that it isn't entertaining, but the film's premise is certainly well past its "use by" date."

"A fun, frothy return for Frank and his creaky commandos."