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The problem, however, is that the film veers pretty far from particular brand of fanciful realism that defined the first few issues of the comic book, choosing instead to reach for some elements found at the end of the series - particularly a possible nuclear threat posed by Max - played here as a genuinely funny Jason Patric. It’s nice to see a villain who seems as appealing and savvy as the heroes who are after him, but the character is far too two-dimensional as a whole to come across with any depth.

The film ends making a pretty solid lead-in to a sequel. Theoretically, a lengthy three-part movie serial adaptation of the comic book series would be possible, but with work as solidly mediocre as this Losers film is, it hardly seems worth it. And certainly, after a sub-par opening weekend, the film seems destined to stand alone.

The Verdict

With iconic images and an exceedingly catchy premise, the comic book series had a great deal of appeal, but it had expended all of that appeal in its long, slow journey through 32 issues. Borrowing choice bits from the series and adding some of its own, the film has a very kinetic appeal that is completely lacking in the comic book.

Sadly, neither are completely satisfying, as the comic book series takes a very intriguing socio-political perspective and crams it rather uncomfortably into a action-adventure story that never really delivers on its politically savvy background. Having never really attempted to go into the politically savvy background, the film has an opportunity to be a fun straight-ahead action film, but it never really delivers on that potential. While certain scenes are brilliantly rendered and it’s fun to watch the ensemble interact with each other, the series never really builds-up enough momentum to overcome the inevitably cheesy Hollywood ending with an over-rendered villain. What begins as a ensemble action film ends as a particularly weak cross between James Bond and Mission: Impossible.

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