The team returns with a bang but when one of their own is murdered, they set out for brutal revenge

Rating: 8/10 (22 December 2012)

Stallone, Statham, Lundgren, Li, Couture and Cruz. Check! Schwarzenegger and Willis in tow. Check! Also starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as the villain and with a special guest; CHUCK NORRIS!!! Judging by the first film, I expected this to be the film that delivered more of what I expected the first time around - a bigger budget, a bigger adventure, more hardcore fights and an better script. And that is what I got.
It seems that Stallone has gone back to the start for real since his final Rocky outing - doing everything on a more independent level. He did the same with the final Rambo instalment too and then with Expendables. I'm guessing that Hollywood doesn't want to touch him so much now because of his age but that is what this film is about in many respects. Especially with Chuck Norris now over the age of 70, these veterans are proving - like Danny Trejo is now doing in his late 60's - that they can do what any young action star can do, if not more, with their experience and attitude towards hard work. And this sequel goes to show just how much hard work they were all willing to input.
Every single action star included in Expendables 2 puts in more than they did the last time, including Schwarzenegger and Willis. And then Jean Claude Van Damme has proved that he can still fight just as hard as he did in Kickboxer and Bloodsport.
Not only that but those that didn't get so much dialogue to prove themselves, Lundgren and Crews especially, get to lighten the tone a lot more. The addition of Liam Hemsworth as Billy the Kid was a welcome offering of young blood also but the camaraderie between all the mercenaries is so evident this time that it is more fun to watch when there is no action fill. It is easily noticeable that Stallone had well-known trivia about his cast written into the dialogue as an injoke between characters; spot them if you can.
I would welcome a third and final instalment. There is no end to the possibilities that await but I would be happy to see a few more action legends pulling merc or villain duty.
E.g. Danny Trejo, Michael Biehn, Thomas Jane, Lance Henriksen, Michael Jai White... just sayin'...