Film Review: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham Are Halfway in ‘The Expendables’

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CHICAGO – Seeing them all together was fun. Enduring some macho joshing, even in the form of stiff dialogue, was tolerable. But doing a bad, boring action movie with Sylvester Stallone trying to prop up his “legacy” was sadly too much to bear. Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are among “The Expendables.”

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.5/5.0
Rating: 2.5/5.0

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is the leader of a mercenary force, and the film opens with an intervention on a ship that’s been pirated. His force, which includes his right hand man Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Ying Yang (Jet Li), Toll Road (Randy Couture), Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) and Gunner (Dolph Lundgren), is introduced, and although they take care of the situation, Gunner goes rogue and Barney is looking for the next big job. He even commiserates with his best pal, Tool (Mickey Rourke).

The next gig comes in the form of Bruce Willis, as Mr. Church. He hires the team to take out a tinhorn despot general, who is starving his people on a small island country by giving up the fields to cocaine production. His partner is an American named James Munroe (Eric Roberts), running the drugs and pulling the strings behind the dictatorship.

Accepting the assignment, Ross and Christmas do some reconnaissance on the island, where they are ambushed by Munroe’s men (including ”Stone Cold” Steve Austin as Paine). A mysterious woman named Sandra (Giselle Itié) helps them escape the first time, and Barney can’t shake the image of her courage in the line of fire. After some soul searching, and more advice from Tool, the whole team goes back to the island for some good old school butt kicking.

“The Expendables” opens everywhere August 13th. Featuring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Giselle Itié, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Screenplay by Sylvester Stallone and David Callaham,
directed by Sylvester Stallone. Rated “R”

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Expendables”

Whole Lotta Gunnin’ Going On: Ying Yang (Jet Li), Gunner (Dolph Lundgren) and Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) in ‘The Expendables’
Ying Yang (Jet Li), Gunner (Dolph Lundgren) and Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) in ‘The Expendables’
Photo Credit: Karen Ballard for © Lionsgate

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Expendables”

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