REVIEW: THE EXPENDABLES

4.5/5

15, 103 Minutes. Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Terry Crews & Mickey Rourke. Director: Sylvester Stallone

Classic throw away action you’re going to want to keep.



What happens when you take almost every action hero and hard man in films over the last 20 years and put them all together? Well you get a lot of testosterone, a lot of Botox and one of the most exciting action films of the last 10 years.

It was all slyly put together by Sylvester Stallone who recruits Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lungren, Mickey Rourke, Steve Austen, Terry Crews and Randy Couture for his all-star movie army. There's even a hilarious cameo scene featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. With all the star power, explosions and wrecks in this film the budget must have been more than these guys combined egos, but that's beside the point here. These stars pulled an 'Oceans 11' and all took less to get more in this ensemble piece.

This movie is a modern day throwback to films of yesteryear where all the stars would come together to make magic. The ego's where checked at the weight room. 'The Expendables', works out into the shape of a great film even if it was a Van Damme or Segal away from being fully chiseled.

The plot of this film centers around Stallone's group of 'Expendable' mercanaries that do the jobs no one else wants to. Stallone and Statham travel to Vilena off the Gulf Of Mexico (Vilena's hard ot find on the map because...well it's not real) under the guise of being there to photograph exotic birds. They certainly look like the hardest members of the 'National Trust'. There they meet Sandra the daughter of General Garza, a brutal dictator with his own army who in turn works with an ex-CIA agent. Now when things get a little bit too heavey for the girl they just met, Stallone leads his men back to get Sandra. Sure the plot is not exactly 'complex', but you didnt come for that did you as what unfolds from there is an incredible action set piece, where if you had a penny for every bullet and body count we'd be out the recession.

If you like your action there’s no doubt you'll love this. You'll love Stallone’s handiwork with a weapon. You'll love Jet Li's combat skills. You'll love when Jason Statham teaches Charisma Carpenters ex-boyfriend how to treat a lady and you'll sure love to meet Terry Crews girlfriend. Now if you think this film is all brawn and no brains then look any further than Mickey Rourke and his tearful scene. Oh yes big boys do cry and even though Mickey Rourke looks a bit like he's entering a Steven Tyler look alike contest in this film and coming third he shows yet again that he is one of the best actors in this biz.

So if you love choppers, action, hard men, mum and hairdresser jokes and a soundtrack of classic rock from Creedence Clearwater you aint going to want to throw away an opportunity to see this ultimate Friday night popcorn movie. Miss it at your expense. TIM DAVID HARVEY.