Guilty pleasures. That’s the best way to understand “The A-Team”. When a tank falls from the sky and its occupants start firing straight down to slow the two-ton metal hunk’s momentum, “guilty pleasure” is the only framework that makes sense. Sure, this kind of big budget action may be a perfect example of the low expectation of the summer audience, but sometimes you just need to bask in the fast-food goodness of a blockbuster that makes fun of itself.

Face (Bradley Cooper) and Hannibal (Liam Neeson) plot their next move during the climactic showdown with their enemies. (photo courtesy of Fox Pictures)

It’s difficult to imagine this B-movie with so many A-list actors, but when it comes to nostalgia at the movies, everyone wants a piece of the good-ole’-days pie. Remaking the 1983 TV show about an ex-special forces unit, we’ve got Liam Neeson as Col. Hannibal, Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover”) as Lt. “Faceman” Peck, UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as B.A. Baracus, and Sharlto Copley (“District 9”) as Murdock.

This A-Team was the best of the best until they were set up by an unknown enemy. Now they must break out of prison and clear their names while the trail to justice is still hot. But who can be trusted? Faceman’s ex Charisa Sosa (Jessica Biel) or CIA agent Lynch (Patrick Wilson)? Get ready for storyboarding based on explosions that make Michael Bay look like a serious director. But just remember Hannibal’s famous one-liner as the fires grow and the chaos continually escalates in this “MacGyver” meets “Dirty Dozen” adventure: there’s always a plan.

Big movies of 2010 haven’t hit the high notes of years past with some of the lowest box office turnout of the decade, but at least “The A-Team” captures a sense of fun and humor lost on the other attempts this year. Finally, someone remembered the formula: lots of action, one-liner humor, and a touch of emotion. Of course the film’s at its weakest when one member of the team doubts his violent calling, turning to Gandhi in one of Hollywood film’s biggest prooftexting blunders.

It’s hard to watch as one of the world’s most respected pacifists’ words are used to justify revenge.

Nostalgic films are known for losing the audience in a series of Easter Egg moments where fans of the original get the joke while everyone else watches in confusion (i.e. “Iron Man 2”), but “The A-Team”, while filled with such scenes, doesn’t do it at the expense of the greater good. When B.A. tightens his fist to show off tattoos on his knuckles that read “Pity” and “Fool”, there’re hysterically comforting while also just corny fun.

I also can’t help but laugh at Mr. T’s predecessor; yet another fighting star. But unlike Mr. T’s previous boxing role in “Rocky III”, “Rampage” Jackson comes from more aggressive origins — The Ultimate Fighting Championship — a world of beer sponsors and broken limbs. And when it comes to remaking old material, “The A-Team” is perfect for one simple reason; it’s not “Citizen Kane” but a campy show three episodes shy of syndication.

“The A-Team” treads the line between idiocy and entertaining — a line “Transformers 2” spat on for the sake of elementary school humor. The chemistry between the team is palpable, but Copley again proves he’s the actor to watch in the new decade. The South African star of “District 9” has a unique interpretation of an American off his rocker.

Coming off his action high in “Taken”, Neeson returns as a hands-on team leader ready to take on any foe with his new white hair. Cooper is always a gem on screen and he finally gets to prove his worth with a gun — not just the ladies.

Jackson is decent, but it’s clear his main stage is a cage with a single opponent to pounce rather than bounce lines off. Still, he looks the part, knows how to fight, and could get better in the future. Even Wilson tries out despicable and it’s actually quite humorous. Sadly, this is a machismo-fest as Biel doesn’t do much but serve as something for Cooper to chase.

There are better movies out there, just not in the theatres. And maybe I’m being too excited about a mundane film because the year has been so pathetic thus far, but I can’t help it. “The A-Team’s” a good time and worth the big screen experience. For once, a remake actually worked out. Remember “Starsky and Hutch” or “Dukes of Hazzard”? How about “Get Smart”? The defense rests.