Red Dawn (remake) - Pretty much what I expected

I have to confess... I missed the eighties original, so I can't compare this remake to its predecessor. However, I knew the story - America is invaded by a hostile force and its up to some good looking teens to turn into `the resistance' and fight back.

How much you enjoy this movie will depend on how much you can suspend your disbelief. The whole movie is pretty farfetched from start to finish. If you can believe that America is that easy to overtake and that a small town seems to be of real importance to an invading force, then you can probably believe that the country's armed forces seem pretty powerless to do anything about it, leaving it to the kids to save the day.

The transmission between ordinary high school kids and urban guerrillas is handled in a short montage soon after the invasion, showing us how they're now a considerable force to be reckoned with. However, this can probably be explained away by the fact that they are led by `Thor' (also apparently known as Chris Hemsworth) who has a near indestructible pick-up truck. He gives them motivational speeches which make you want to thank your lucky stars that you live in a land of freedom.

It's all pretty cheesy and, although I may be being a bit flippant about it all, I actually quite enjoyed it. There are some pretty intense and dramatic scenes, mainly involving the carnage the invasion brings.

Ultimately, don't take it too seriously. It's daft, cheesy, over-the-top and desperately trying to get a sequel made, but if you can excuse and overlook its one hundred and one faults, then you might be able to get something out of it. At least it's short, so it won't take up too much of your time!

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that