The Expendables Review: Little room for too many cooks

There are times when too many and too much are simply not good. “The Expendables” is one film that has too many stars and too much action that they kill the thrill out of this mega-budget star-studded action film.

Barney Ross (Stallone) and his team of mercenaries called “The Expendables” attempt to overthrow the ruler of a small island who is supported by a rogue CIA agent initially looks promising.

However, the firepower and extreme action sequences are the only things that one can remember after the climax. Directed and written by Sylvester Stallone, the film has Stallone himself, Jet Li, Jason Statham with action stars Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke.  Guest appearances come notably from musclemen Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.
The gigantic proportion of the film becomes a major problem in itself as there are just not enough room for the characters develop a bond with themselves and with the audience. We have characters with girlfriend problems, inferiority complex, drug abuse, self opinionated individual and so forth.

If the film had some pinch of that extra whoa effects in the form of friendship and bonding we could have a truly epic action film.

Technically, the film’s action sequences are good yet the camera tends to be too shaky for proper viewing. It disturbs the eyes as it becomes difficult to make out whose hand or leg was hit.

There are also few surprising turns toward the end as this film is about mercenaries. The final ruling on “The Expendables” is: An outlandish and damp action movie where too many cooks spoil the broth.

Review by Robert L. Sungte,

English(A)

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke

Director: Sylvester Stallone