Filed under: Reviews
As nostalgic Sylvester Stallone wants to be in bringing together action stars of the past and present (Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger), 'The Expendables' is the ultimate brainless, testosterone, ill-conceived vehicle that should have stayed as an idea than put into fruition.
For a film to be co-written and directed by Stallone, and with good intentions, more time could have spent on a plot that pleases everyone than just creating a hodgepodge of quick cuts, bad dialogue, and an endless amount of explosions.
Nevertheless, if you are a fan or any or all of these guys, and you are well aware of their acting abilities, then you will find no fault in seeing a film with guns, fights, and blow-ups. You might even say that this is the best action film of the year!
Stallone leads a group of mercenaries who take orders from Mickey Rourke's character on where to go, what to get, who to save, and get paid. The risks are always high and death is a possibility. When Stallone's Barney sets to save the life of woman whose father's in cahoots with a rogue CIA agent (played by Roberts), he rallies the reluctant troops to come along on the assignment.
That's basically the plot. Sit back, don't think, and just enjoy the ride. That's the concept these guys made their earnings with back in their days.
For fans of the action genre, there are plenty of scenes that are dazzling; and some will get a kick of seeing MMA Randy Couture go against wrestling star Steve Austin. Although all of the guys have their moment of spotlight, Willis and Schwarzenegger's appearance with Stallone could have been longer.
Back in 1996, 'Original Gangstas' brought together stars of the blaxploitation world from Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, and Ron O'Neal. 'The Expendables' is the same thing. Neither film is good by any means, but their purpose was always is to entertain, and you maybe you'll enjoy Stallone's film despite its flaws.