'The Expendables'

'The Expendables' (R) (3 stars)

Writers: Sylvester Stallone and Dave Callaham
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, David Zayas

There is no way anyone should enjoy "The Expendables" because it is pure trash but it is such a fun and guilty pleasure. This movie is a rude and crude throwback to those cheesy action movies of the 80's and Stallone was in a few like 1986's "Cobra". It gathers some stars of the 80's and some new action stars to form a latter day Dirty Dozen. I warn you that if you didn't like those action movies from the 80's or you don't like Stallone don't go see this. I grew up with a lot of these stars and it was fun to see them back in their glory, some who have been wasted for decades. I really don't care about the plot because it is thin and stupid, I just like the overblown, silly but funny action scenes. This movie may be stupid but it is better than 75% of the movies that came out this summer. I would rather have colorful and exciting stupid then dull, lifeless stupid like "Sorcerer's Apprentice". This movie falls under my new "Paul Blart Mall Cop Rule" which means a movie's story line might be stupid or goofy and aimed at a low level but if it does it's job well then it will work and you will enjoy it. This is not a prestige movie but a violent, bloody and over the top action movie that succeeds in the type of movie it is trying to be. If you are expecting something like "Salt" or "Knight and Day" this will not satisfy you. I grew up with these stars of the 80's and I always defended Stallone since I was little. This is one of the most unfairly picked on actors of my time. In early Stallone movies he always bravely threw all his heart into all his action scenes and he will always be one of the most exciting action stars ever. There is also Eric Roberts who has been wasted for about twenty years and Mickey Rourke, these were my favorite actors of my childhood and my idols. It is great to see these heroes of my youth back together and it is good to see them mix it up with new stars like Jason Statham who comes off best here. At some point I even forgot what the movie was about. I was just giddy to see all these larger than life guys having fun and I also found the action stuff silly but kind of infectious. I also forgot to mention a classic scene full of cameos by Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger and a line in the scene that made everyone laugh out loud. Check your brain at the door and wallow in the fun stupidity.