Sylvester Stallone has taken everything from a bad 80’s action movie and pumped it up about 1000 percent and presented to us as “The Expendables”. A “Rambo”, “Commando”, and “Predators” rolled into one action packed, super violent thrill ride.
“Expendables” has no shortage of action and action heroes in the cast. Considering this, it’s no wonder the movie drips with adrenaline and testosterone during the action sequences. “Expendables” action was apparently taken very seriously and it shows. Choreography in the fight scenes is every well executed and the gunfire is a must see. And you mustn’t forget the explosions were plenty too. In fact, I can’t recall when I have seen more explosions per film. “Expendables” has to have hit some sort of record.
At one point in the film the audience is treated to a little “break” in the action (a lot of folks went to pee), but those of us who stayed saw a killer scene where bad guys were being mowed down and set on fire (whoa)!
Although the film has no shortage of action, the story is not as compelling. Stallone and band of men are mercenaries. They do jobs when the government doesn’t want to get involved. In comes the CIA who hires the team to take out the leader, General Garza (David Zayas), of a South American country. When they arrive they find out that the dictator is being funded by cocaine and the man in charge is really James Munroe (Eric Roberts).
They abort the mission (too dangerous), but Barney (Stallone) can’t seem to forget about the general’s daughter and how much danger she’s in from the cocaine kingpin Munroe. Tool (Mickey Rourke) gives him a gut-wrenching speech about doing the right thing and changing your life that convinces Barney to go back and finish the job and make it a rescue mission.
The characters are larger than life and fun (or funny) to watch. They’re not given any reasonable dialog and it feels like the lines are being forced out of them, but that makes the experience all the more cheesy. “Expendables” is not going for Masterpiece Theater here, so just enjoy the bad dialog and corny jokes.
“Expendables” is violent, gory, cheesy action mess. Perfect for the summer!