The Expendables: Film Review
Sylvester Stallone’s campaign to revive 80’s action continues with his latest movie, The Expendables.
Stallone’s meathead fest is less original than a turkey sandwich. And the plot isn’t any different. It’s flatter than an astronaut in a trouser press. Then there’s the acting – if you can call it that.
Yet a weird thing happens when you pull all these parts together. The Expendables actually works. It’s a mindless action movie which has no other aspiration than to entertain its audience.
And it is on this basis that The Expendables should be judged.
The Expendables: A Dependable 80’s Style Action Flick
Critics have slammed The Expendables harder than Mr Steroid himself, Hulk Hogan. Thankfully Hogan is nowhere to be seen in this movie.
Were it not for its a-list cast – and by a-list, I mean action list – then The Expendables would no doubt be straight to DVD fodder.
The presence of Sly Stallone, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, Eric Roberts, Jason Statham and Mickey Rourke, elevates The Expendables into a must-see movie for any action junkie.
The group dynamic works, but only just. And the huge cast list means there is little time to flesh the characters out. True to the 80’s action flick, Stallone relies on clichés, prejudice, racial and social stereotypes. The Chinese guy knows martial arts and the bold fellow is handy with a knife – it’s that simple.
And besides, everything is just an excuse to parachute our band of mercenaries into a fictional South American country. I mean, if you’re hunting bad guys, where better to look?
The Expendables: Stallone as Director
Stallone has proved his abilities behind the camera time and time again. So to lambaste his directorial effort in The Expendables seems to be missing the point.
It was only a few years back that Stallone updated his Rambo saga, infusing 80’s action with the modern-day, fast-cutting style, we have become accustomed to.
Stallone goes even further in the The Expendables. He strips the action back to its barebones, harnessing the type of unfussy camera which is a staple of his generation’s action films.
His straightforward direction captures the tone and absurdist beats of movies like Commando, Rambo and Predator.
Is it as good as such classics? Not in the slightest. Will it fade into the filmic history? Probably.
Even so, in an age of effects-driven, MTV–style action films for kids, it’s refreshing to see a movie which only exists to kick ass.
Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis
Stallone understands the limitations of the action genre – it was he, after all, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, who pretty much defined it during the 80’s.
And sure, the decision to inscribe the names of Schwarzenegger and Willis on the poster is a little misleading. They do, after all, only get two minutes of screen time.
But the chance to see Planet Hollywood engage in an onscreen threesome, albeit a quickie, turns the wet dreams of millions of action fans into a reality.
It’s a reverential moment which lays bare Stallone’s self-aware approach to The Expendables.
The Expendables: Sex in the City for Men
The Expendables is a very rare thing indeed – a violent action flick, for adults, in 2010.
While it isn’t perfect, it is fun. It’s an 80’s action film which has travelled through time to the noughties.
If you’re looking for a two-hour lobotomy, then The Expendables could just be the film for you.
Rating: 
philc
9:35 pm, August 30, 2010
was so pumped for expendables but real let down in the end. didnt like it at all.
Joel
1:43 pm, August 31, 2010
what the hell you on about phill? The movie rocked. Pure, adrenaline-fueled fun for the action fan.
Like Matt says, there’s nothing with a little fun when watching films. That’s what cinema is first foremost about surely…entertainment?
Stallone entertains in style…hope he makes a sequel with the Muscles from Brussels…Mr Jean Claude Van Damme!!!!
Al Fuller
9:53 am, September 8, 2010
Ha. That’d be cool!
I think that most of the time whether you enjoy a film or not is the mood or mindset you are in when you view it. With this action packed movie, joel is absolutely right, you need to want to be entertained. So sit back, relax and enjoy it! However that probably doesn’t mean its going to be memorable!
Great review
Matt
10:05 am, September 8, 2010
You make an interesting point Al.
Mark Kermode recently delivered a blog post exploring the impact of mood on how you perceive a film.
It’s true to say, that when I went into The Expendables I was riding a high. Fresh on the back of a sunny day in Lincoln and a great business meeting, I went into the movie more open-minded than a couple at a swinger’s party.
Did this affect my judgment? Surely it did. I wanted to enjoy the film and I did.
And The Expendables is far from a masterpiece. Quite simply it’s 80s nostalgia action fun which hit all the right notes for me.
Couple that with my exuberant mood and it was two hours well spent.
cheers guys
Ross Wheatley
6:03 pm, September 11, 2010
It was far from a masterpiece, although I enjoyed it a lot. It had all the makings of a good 80s action film – absolutely ridiculous, but at the same time, good fun to see. Would definently rewatch.
nice post.
Wez Thomas
8:16 pm, October 5, 2010
I loved it because it was pure cheese. Sly’s bringing back the 80s like Ric Flair! Woooo!
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