“The Expendables” is a Hollywood action film recently released to DVD. The movie has got it all: guns, knives, lots of BIG explosions and loud noises, buildings blowing up, broken bones, plenty of blood,the obligatory car chases, crash of breaking glass, and an innocent attractive woman punched in the face by a man twice her size. The cast are mostly big steroidal white men with the obligatory token black man (Terry Crews) and asian (Jet Li). Jet Li's character is consistently subjected to carefully couched but nonetheless demeaning racial-stereotype lines from his 'buddies'. They are a group of mercenaries who ride big fancy chopped and pinstriped hogs and sport large tattoos. They are hired to take out some bad guys on an island in a plot so shallow, predictable and paper thin that a mosquito could fly right through it. The characters are all cardboard cutouts taken directly from the pages of a World Wrestling Federation comic book. In fact the WWF is where several of them developed their pumped-up physiques.
Sylvester Stallone directs and stars in the movie. It is totally over the top and there is nothing fresh or new about it. A handful of men face off against hundreds; it's like a grand cage match in wrestling with one man vs. a dozen. Our heroes in this flick are sorta 'bad' guys; but the premise seems to be that some bad guys can be 'good' guys as long as they are better than the really, really bad guys. It is sad that movies like this enjoy such great box office; much like WWF. Some people are bad and need to be hit hard and often. Violence is the solution. Take that bad guys! Stallone's well oiled muscles glisten in the glow from the flaming ruins as he answers the question “Why did you come back?” with “I came for her.” He then gives her a hug, a kiss on the forehead and jumps on his motorcycle to head back to the clubhouse with 'the guys'.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis have nice, but mercifully (for them) short cameo roles. Mickey Rourke has a small part and turns in the best piece of acting in the movie.The soundtrack has a few good tunes, but missing out on seeing this movie would be a smart move. I failed to realize this in time, but you have been warned.
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