Movie Review: The Expendables 2
Movie Review: The Expendables 2 (2012)
Director: Simon West
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Liam Hemsworth, Scott Adkins, Nan Yu
Plot: Barney Ross (Stallone) is contacted by Church (Willis) and told that he has to do a mission. Should be a simple in-and-out. However, upon arriving, the team is attacked by Villain (Van Damme), and one of the team members is killed.
What happens next Ross says what makes up the rest of the plot in the trailer: Track ’em, find ’em, kill ’em. That is the plot of this testosterone-fueled explosion ride.
Like the previous flick, this movie is a love letter to classic 80s action movies there plot is less important than looking bad ass while kicking the crap out of everything that moves, and delivering snappy one-liners all the while. And this movie is that in spades.
What I particularly like about this movie is that it pokes fun at itself, and also gives more screen time to characters beyond just Stallone and Statham.
With the poking fun, this movie is very self aware that it’s so heavy with testosterone to almost be action parody. Where no one can hit a thing with their bullets, except for the good guys who’s ammo always connects. With Arnold and Willis exchanging one-liners from their classic action flicks. With Chuck Norris giving a Chuck Norris joke as one of his opening lines. Yes, this movie knows exactly what it is – and accepts it with open arms. And so should you, because it works and it works well.
The crew Stallone has in this movie has always been of interest to me, but the first movie primarily focused on Stallone and Statham. This movie, Statham takes a back seat to focus on some of the supporting cast, and give more time to introduce new characters (some of who get more screen time than they should, and unfortunately replace some of the characters we actually want to see).
JCVD playing a villain (named Villain, of all things) was a site to see. Merciless, evil, and a born killing machine. It was awesome to watch him chew the screen every scene he’s in.
This movie is less plot and more gun play and explosions throughout, but it never tries to be more than that. It introduces a simple concept – get revenge on the bad guy – and plays it right to the action piece at the end of the flick that culminates in the fight everyone wants to see. And it does not disappoint.
If you want a little cotton candy for your brain, and / or are a fan of cheesy 80s action flicks where style is more important than substance, do yourself a favor and see this movie. Get some popcorn, kick back, and watch these aging stars kick ass again. And prove once again why they are the big names they are today – because they defined the genre of “action hero.”
