Still Expendable.

Rating: 2/10 (1 September 2015)

The Expendables 2 (2012): Dir: Simon West / Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris: The first film was expendable, so it comes to no surprise that the second film is every bit as stupid. The point is to create the biggest roll call of famous names since The Cannonball Run. All of these action stars have had success and developed a big fan base, but why not bring them together within a screenplay that counts? Again we have Sylvester Stallone leading a group of aged veteran actors out to avenge the death of a young member who was thinking about settling down. Jean-Claude Van Damme plays the ruthless villain who wears overly big sunglasses that hopefully cover up his shame. We can predict a big showdown between he and Stallone where they beat the crap out of each other using every blunt object within reach. Even when Jason Statham has a standoff with a henchman we know where it will eventually land. Then we have the assembly line of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Elmer Fudd, Deputy Dawg, Marvin the Martian, and any other being of sorts who can seemingly survive anything. Simon West made a good film in The General's Daughter. He has also made trash such as Con Air and Laura Croft: Tomb Raider. It doesn't take long to figure out where this role call action sh*t falls into. He is a capable director of action but after the explosions and special effects a story is needed. Instead we are left with another sh*t storm mess that should be flush away with the first film. Score: 2 / 10