The Expendables 2 kicks up the action to another level.

Rating: 6/10 (25 February 2018)

A much better improvement over its predecessor in nearly all areas. Stallone purely focussing on the acting and partially the writing was a smart move, doing the directing as well was just too much for him last time. Barney and his gang of mercenaries are employed once again to stop a megalomaniac from unleashing a deadly weapon. Bigger action, badder weapons and brisker pacing, improvements improvements improvements! That's what I like to see. Alas, the plot is one dimensional and incredibly dull again. The dialogue is either cringey or boring, but atleast there is more characterisation here. It isn't the "Stallone and Statham show", the other members feel more integrated which was great to see. The opening action sequence immediately had me hooked, the sound of pounding guns obliterating baddies (literally shredding them to pieces) and the exciting explosions harked back to classic action films. It's mindless, numbing and will make your eyes bleed. More muscles and testosterone than a can of 'Mr Muscle', bulging biceps in every scene as I count how many veins are popping out on Stallone's arm (the answer is three by the way). Acting is serviceable with more focus on the stunt work, which is fine for this type of flick. Throwing blades, raging tanks and gigan...WAIT! Stop! Guys, Chuck Norris waltzes in and steals the film!? "I was bitten by a poisonous cobra, five agonising days later the cobra died". Life...complete! The constant cheesy lines were cringeworthy to say the least, particularly when Willis and Schwarzenegger were on screen together. "I'm back", "I'll terminate you", "yippee-kiyay"...we get it. Nostalgia is beautiful, but don't force these quotes in. It's so out of place. Despite the bland plot and horrific dialogue, it's a fun entertaining time that'll keep you occupied. More of an 80s throwback than the first instalment, so atleast I got something I was promised this time (finally!).