The sort of fare that would have gone direct to DVD had Stallone not been behind it

Rating: 5/10 (10 September 2010)

It has to be said that you either have to admire Sylvester Stallone or laugh at him. Either way he's a like his most famous iconic creation, Rocky Balboa he's never been one to go down without a fight. However in more recent years, age and diminishing box office clout has forced him to retread old ground by revisiting familiar territory with both "Rocky Balboa" and "Rambo". Once again he more or less does the same thing with "The Expendables" a tribute if you like to the loud, slam bang, action films of the eighties with which he made his name with. Gathering around him a mixed bag of old pro's some of which made their name (which is now somewhat dubious given where their careers have ended up)back in the day. "The Expendables" could be seen as an old man's affectionate if some what shallow, back slapping look back on past glories. And while satisfying enough in a superficial sense it won't win any wards for innovation. For to be honest the movie had it not had Stallones stamp upon wouldn't have seemed out of place in a direct to DVD bargain bin. A place where a certain Dolph Lundgren has found himself relegated to. Fortunately Stallone to his merit Isn't without some writing or notable directorial attributes which is what manages to raise it slightly above the hackneyed tripe that Lundgren is now to forced peddle.
An elite team of mercenaries, The Expendables of the movies title are hired by government bigwig, the enigmatically titled Mr. Church to bring down a corrupt South American dictator. A man who runs a small Island country with the aid of former CIA agent gone rogue James Munroe (Eric Roberts). Barney Ross (Stallone) and his number two Lee, (British action star Jason Statham who is the baby of the bunch at 38) travel ahead to scout the territory and meet with their secret contact and local rebel Sandra. But when things go awry, Ross and Lee are forced to flee with Sandra being left behind to face the music. With the choice of walking away from the entire mess, Barney's conscience tells him to do otherwise and he assembles his crew to go back in, rescue Sandra and finish the job. Like I said, It's abouts as shallow as they come.
One big celebration of bygone days and of the action genre, it's hardly a surprise that Stallone has assembled a cast that includes Jet-Li, Dolph Lundgren et al. Of course you can't have a slam-bam action throw back to the eighties hey day without the obligatory cameos from a certain Bruce Willis and a dubious governor of California, the latter's being so fleeting, gratuitous and heavy handed it borders on offensive. Subtle this film Isn't but then what were we to expect. Lundgren seems to mainly inhabit a role that might as well be an extended cameo and is left with a character that conveniently sits upon a moral see saw and results in eventually being nothing more than a tool utilised to briefly kick some ass and forward the films leaden plot. The rest of the Expendables seem with the exception of Statham (who unsurprisingly is lumbered with the hackneyed minor romantic sub-plot) to be their mainly just to make up the numbers while Mickey Rourke is merely on hand to offer some "sage" counsel as old friend and former team mate, Tool.
But for all the requisite clichés that abound Stallone does seem to be having fun on and off camera and as he has proved in the past that while he has a habit for at times being a tad trite and all too crowd pleasing. His direction is never the less fluid and he manages to never let the pace of the film drag. The action sequences are fairly impressive and although neither he and Statham aren't the greatest of actors they gel well together and have a likable, aimable chemistry in their shared scenes, leading me to wonder if their was as much camaraderie off camera as there is on. It is to Stallone's merit that he even managed to film some of the movies more hands on, fight sequences. And added to this it's a film that never takes itself entirely too seriously, although it does of course lapse in to the odd moment of dramatic gravitas. But to some extent you can't help but think that with every explosion and obliging one liner you would come to expect that Stallone is wallowing in the absurd and superficiality in it all. He knows basically knows what his core audience wants and is unashamed to deliver.
As arguably the main villain, Eric Roberts a fine and undervalued actor once again is left with the typical sneering bad guy that he has become mainly known for playing. Although solid you can't help but think he deserves better than being forced to play two-dimensional villains.
As hollow as what it would be on paper, "The Expendables" is something of a guilty pleasure. It Isn't the most inspiring and original of projects that Stallone has helmed and yet considering most of his career, it's just another one of a number of glossy action pics that he can associate himself with. You might say It's an affectionate look at a period with which Stallone and others like him made their name. And while I'm in no doubt there is affectionate intent when It's all said and done It's just another dumb, loud action pick all be it a solid one at that.