Review: G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Release Date:  March 28, 2013

Running Time: 110 minutes
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, D.J. Cotrona, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis

Who to see it with: Your friend that likes explosions and gunfire and stuff. 

David: 

I wasn't expecting this movie to be good.  I expected a summer movie with big explosions and lots of fighting and that's what I got.  The action was exciting, the explosions were extreme, and there were some funny moments.  Some of the scenes were intentionally absurd / corny which added some levity to the movie.  But, the plot seemed overly serious and made no sense.  Also, some of the CG effects were not well done.  I missed some of the characters from the first movie (Marlon Wayans and Rachel Nichols) but the additions to the cast were enjoyable--especially Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock and RZA as the blind master (see overly corny section).  I think the main problem with G.I. Joe is that it doesn't know what it wants to be.  Is it a serious, the world is in danger type movie or is it a corny, throwback to the eighties show?  Well, it tries to be both and doesn't really succeed in either.  

Rent it.

PS - There is no stinger at the end of the credits.

3D Note - Not worth it.  It didn't really add anything to the movie and there were several scenes where it was distracting (such as having an obscured person in the foreground or unnecessary 3D effects).