Film
“Red Dawn” Falls Flat
By LaDale Anderson
Nov 21, 2012 - 7:46:41 PM

HOLLYWOOD—There are so many pickings for audiences to choose from at the multiplex this holiday weekend. If drama, animation and comedy aren’t your cup of tea, you’re in luck as “Red Dawn” a remake of the popular 1984 film that starred the late Patrick Swayze hits theaters. This tale weaves a new generation of superheroes that include “Thor” actor Chris Hemsworth as a high school football player who leads a group that decide to fight back against an army of mercenaries. Those mercenaries are from North Korea.

Hemsworth portrays Jed Eckert, who has not a care in the world until the invasion takes place and his father is killed. It’s up to him to now look out for his brother Matt (Josh Peck) to ensure their survival. The brothers have a strained relationship, as Matt has his own ideas of what needs to be done. The issue with this version of “Red Dawn” is that the picture fails to provide anything fresh compared to its predecessor. The imagery presented on the screen is more visceral than the original classic, but the story falls flat.  A group of people expected not to be heroes turn out to be heroes.  How many times have we seen that on the movie screen?

 

Isabel Lucas and Chris Hemsworth in "Red Dawn."

There is loads of gunfire and explosions that take place throughout the picture, as a group of high school students fight for survival. The have nicknamed themselves “The Wolverines” after their school mascot; they hide out in the woods and plan sneak attacks during the invasion. Also tagging along with the brothers are Robert (Josh Hutcherson), Toni (Adrianne Palicki) and Erica (Isabel Cruise). 

The movie takes place in Spokane, Washington that is the initial backdrop of the invasion. You’d think a more populated city would have been selected, but starting with a small town is the key to go. The characters are one dimensional; there’s not much growth throughout the movie and I personally never felt an invasion was taking place; the realism of the picture was problematic for me. “Red Dawn” is not the worst movie of the year, but if spectators have high expectations for the picture they may be gravely disappointed with the result.