Review: The Expendables

If you go into The Expendables expecting anything other than gratuitous violence, testosterone flying off the screen, and action, action, action, you’re in the wrong theatre. There are endless scenes of knife-throwing, bones breaking, martial arts, and explosions galore. If you’re looking for an excellent and cheesy throwback to the action flicks of the ‘80s (fare like Rambo, Cobra, and Red Scorpion come to mind), then The Expendables is a knock-your-socks-off joyride of manliness (a better title could be The League of Extraordinary Action Stars).

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and his team of the toughest, most bad-ass mercenaries (made up of Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, and Dolph Lundren) are hired by the mysterious Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) to go to a South American island and overthrow its evil dictator (David Zayas).

Shortly after they arrive to assess the situation, they learn that a corrupt ex-CIA agent (Eric Roberts) and his thugs (Steve Austin and Gary Daniels) are actually running the show. Deeming the mission too risky, they head back to the U.S., ready to call it quits — until they become targets themselves. Throw in the fact that there is also a woman left behind (played by Giselle Itié) who appears to be in danger, and the boys decide to head back to blow the crap out of everyone and everything.

Directed and co-written by Stallone, The Expendables could be his big, loud, swan song from the action genre. He was even able to get Arnold Schwarzenegger, who hasn’t appeared onscreen since becoming Governor of California, to do a cameo with Willis and himself in one of the best tongue-in-cheek moments in the film (also the first time the three of them have been onscreen in a movie together). The cast of misfits (which also includes Mickey Rourke) all work well together and make The Expendables a fun watch. The only way it could have rocked more is if action stars Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme were included.

This is the third film this year to come along that features groups of mercenaries blowing stuff up and kicking butt (The Losers and The A-Team being the other two), and one would think the audience would be tired of this storyline by now. While I also enjoyed those films, the big difference is that The Expendables does it with more raw power and love for the genre and also has a lot more fun with it.

The Expendables probably won’t win any awards but it will most likely win over a legion of fans and become an action classic.

*** out of 5 stars

Rated 18A
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li
Directed by: Sylvester Stallone
Official Site IMDb

brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com

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