The Expendables *** (2010, Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke) – Classic Movie Review 804

Sylvester Stallone’s 2010 all-action movie The Expendables hots up to some great old-fashioned mayhem. Jet Li’s rumpus with Dolph Lundgren is the fight highlight, but Jason Statham steals the show.

‘We are the shadows and the smoke, we rise. We are the ghosts that hide in the night.’ – Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone).

The 2010 American action film The Expendables is directed by and stars Sylvester Stallone, who co-writes the screenplay with David Callaham. The first instalment in The Expendables franchise has an ensemble star cast, including Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in an uncredited cameo.

Mercenaries Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone, aged 64), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham, 38) and Yin Yang (Jet Li, 47) team up to go to the South America jungles and take on evil bad guys – slick sadist James Munroe (Eric Roberts), his bald henchman Paine (Steve Austin) and the local sleazy dictator General Garza (David Zayas) – and save Mexican lovely Sandra (Giselle Itié), the dictator’s daughter.

After a slowish and muddled first half hour, Sly’s 2010 all-action movie The Expendables hots up to some great old-fashioned mayhem in a resplendently unreconstructed 70s-style actioner. It’s nice to report that the old guys don’t do so bad in the acting or action departments, though Statham steals the movie as Lee Christmas. He really looks like he can kick ass and handles what one-liners the patchy script gives him pretty darned well.

As star, Stallone is a surprisingly amiable, relaxed presence as Barney Ross and, boy, can he still run and fight! And, as co-writer (with Dave Callaham) and director, Stallone can still turn in a very workable, acceptable movie. Of course, you want it to be great – but it’s just OK. But then that’s OK. The scene where Sly meets his old pals Bruce Willis (as Mr Church) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (in an uncredited cameo as Trench Mauser) is the funny highlight. It had to be – but it is.

The tiny Jet Li’s exciting rumpus with the giant Dolph Lundgren (as Gunner Jensen) is probably the fight highlight. All the players are good value. Mickey Rourke (as Tool) could have done some action – but instead he’s got rambling anecdotes to mumble, providing plenty of time for a bathroom break.

Thanks Expendables – not expended yet then.

It was a hit, revived Sly’s career and sequels were demanded, The Expendables 2 in 2012 and The Expendables 3 in 2014.

Expend4bles [Expendables 4] followed in 2023, with Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture reprising their roles, plus Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, and Tony Jaa.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 804
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