Classic Action Camp

Rating: 8/10 (19 August 2012)

"The Expendables 2" -- better than the original (should we say, more seasoned). The film is a light-hearted hard-hitting, romantic-comedic romp though real-man irony, subtle love, devotion, hard action, sweat, bravado, camaraderie and solitary angst set loose wit,h fast-paced dialog (...well, fast-paced one-liners), in a story-board whose continuity should not be noted too closely. Waffling between persona, cameo, and character, the stars are all smashing. And the exchange of Chuck Norris for Mickey Rourke offers up truly new grist (evidenly Mickey was expendable, and Norris was offered more than he could refuse). And Charisma Carpenter is back, briefly. Don't try this at home! See it in the theater. And for his presence in this film alone, we can forgive Jason Statham for being in "In the Name of the King".