The Expendables claimed to be a throwback to 80s action flicks, but misfired.

Rating: 5/10 (25 February 2018)

Rule number one, never promise a concept that is then not delivered. Expectations are created and inevitably are crushed by the realisation that the film you wanted is not what is shown. I love me a good action blockbuster, even the cheesy 80s low budget messes. Yet, somehow, this was mediocre. A team of mercenaries take on a private mission to eliminate a dictator so that the island's resources can be obtained. Blah blah blah who cares, the script writers certainly didn't. It's a generic plot about drugs and money that functions as a means of showcasing the action that we all want to see. Unfortunately, these action scenes are far and few between thus providing a sluggish pace that is riddled with cumbersome dialogue. It's not even quotable dialogue like in action classics that this film attempted to gain inspiration from. Schwarzenegger still remains the ultimate quotable machine, but his cameo appearance wasn't enough. The chemistry between Statham and Stallone works and didn't feel too forced. A well executed microcosm to distinguish the combination of veteran action stars with the modern newbies. Perhaps too much focus on these two, I would've liked to have seen the other members have standout moments. The sarcastic banter between the characters allowed them to work as a unit. Think of them as a working family powered by guns, blades and muscles. All cast members gave committed performances that oozed masculinity, I mean the testosterone levels were insane. The action scenes were mostly well shot with perhaps too many quick cuts, although the green screen for some segments was rather apparent. A scene involving Statham decimating a group of guys at a basketball court was a highlight and conveys his dedication to the stunt work. On the one hand, The Expendables works as a generic mindless action flick. However on the other hand, it fails to consistently captivate due to a clunky script and inconsistent pacing. Unremarkable, therefore a misfire in my opinion.