Back in 2010, the first Expendables managed to overcome the odds and create the first true, huge ensemble celebration of what it is to make a truly ridiculous action film. The second Expendables took that another step forward, pushing any semblance of plot into the background and choosing instead to increase the cast, and the explosions, and the action all the way to 11. Now, Stallone has decided to complete the trifecta and go for gold with The Expendables 3, with the largest cast yet assembled and a promise to take things beyond what had been seen before. Wesley Snipes, Harrison Ford, Kelsey Grammer, Antonio Banderas and Mel Gibson are amongst a range of newer faces who attempt to prove that the concept is expandable, and more than just explosions and masses of dead enemies. Unfortunately, the film’s title proves a touch too true as what was started as a tribute to the action films of yore now feels like a parody of itself.
This time, its personal as the story goes deeper into the history of Stallone’s merry men to give some emotional depth as Mel Gibson’s character, a black market munitions dealer, is their target… But he’s also an old friend, and the toughest enemy they’ve ever faced.
The plot of these films has never been something to applaud, nor has it ever been something that’s anything more than a basic reason for our heroes to jump from scene to scene, shooting masses of enemeies in their wake. However, for this instalment there’s a distinct emphasis on the story and dialog, forcing us to sit through scenes full of exposition to explain exactly whose who and provide some sort of ‘mystery’ to the narrative. While the idea is commendable, its far from why anyone watches these films, and towards the last act when we’re finally hearing Antonio Banderas’ characters back-story, as opposed to the other weighty emotional diatribes littered throughout, it just feels forced fluffing to add meaning to a concept that doesn’t need it. These sequences are altogether very lacking in any real substance or suspension of disbelief and, bolstered with the mostly sub-par acting, feels more try-hard than Die-Hard in execution.
But again, these aren’t films we watch for their emotional sustenance, we watch them to see Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture et al. blow stuff up together in spectacularly violent, cartoony fashion. Unfortunately, this has a leash on it, not because of the emphasis on dialog and plot, not because of some actual plot-point that disallows the characters from shooting other soldiers but because this time around they’ve opted to go fro a younger audience with a 12A rating (PG-13 stateside.) While this doesn’t mean the film is suddenly void of juicy violence, it does mean there’s far less blood and gore involved, and the sequences feel less fun because of it. Gone is Terry Crews blasting his way through a tunnel of soldiers with a shotgun, or Jason Statham clearing a church of
terrorists with throwing knives dressed as monk, and in their place is a demented but under-developed Wesley Snipes knifing guards stealthily after making his way over to them using parkour. Under any other banner it would be entertaining, but it comes across at lackluster when in the same series that gave us Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger sharing famous lines while riddling a roomful with bullets.
As a celebration of a once great, once prominent genre, The Expendables was a victory parade. Ushering in a new generation by using the old generation to introduce everyone to how entertaining films with nothing more than explosions and gun-fights can be. With the attempt at a trilogy, they’ve somewhat spoiled the broth. An over-emphasis on exposition from actors whose strong point has never been dialog heavy films and an over-indulgence in the idea that anyone actually cares about these characters has created a film that takes its roots in tribute but comes to fruition as a parody. Every time someone lie Sylvester Stallone, or Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Dolph Lundgren, or Bruce Willis, or any of these older action stars releases a film there’s a growing contingent who repeat the chorus that they should hang it up and let the new guys in. For the first time since Expendabes first came out, I now find myself agreeing with them.
Tired, sluggish and un-explosive sequel with more bark than bite. 4/10
