The Expendables(2010)Commando. Rambo. Die Hard. These are the action films of my 80's childhood, adrenaline-fueled exhibits of American gung-ho-ism and muscle-headed resolve. The heroes in these films are not known for their acting abilities, but for awesome screen presence and incomparable charisma. In a summer movie season that’s been a yawn, it's good to count on some old fashion bing bam boom, the kind that kills brain cells and makes you subscribe to a gym you'll never use. Sylvester Stallone returns with his formula (not HGH, but close) and brings "The Expendables," a tribute to his career and to his posse of immensely rich and ego-centric Hollywood alpha-dogs. Plot? Who cares! But if you must know, a elite group of mercenaries named The Expendables are hired by the secretive "Mr. Church" (Bruce Willis) to take down a Latin American island's military dictator and the CIA agent gone bad(Eric Roberts) behind the whole coup. Well, that's it, but that's all Stallone needs to blow stuff up, with simpleton sub-plots for his co-stars Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Dolph Lungdren to beat the crap of some poor extras.
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The Expendables Lookout
One of this year's most expected action films takes us back to 1986. Set for a late summer release, Sylvester Stallone's "The Expendables" brings Reagan-era unapologetic bravura and violence to our tippy toed 21th century sensitivities. Stallone, all 'roided up, leads a mercenary group consisting of other action superstars Jason Straham, Jet Li, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, MMA great Randy Couture,Terry Crews, and fellow juicer Mickey Rourke. |
