Film: The Expendables 3

GENRE: Action

RATING: PG-13 for violence and some language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 6minutes

STARRING: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Rambo, Cliffhanger)

Jason Stratham (Snatch, Transporter), Mel Gibson (Machete Kills)

DIRECTOR: Patrick Hughes  (newcomer)

WRITERS: Stallone (Rocky, Rambo, Cliffhanger, Cobra)

Creighton Rothenberger & Katrin Benedikt (Olympus Has Fallen)

PLOT: Barney and his posse of action heroes take on the Expendables co-founder who wants to take them all out.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 This blow ‘em up action flick was not my favourite of the franchise. I’ll admit my expectations were heightened a bit based on the fun of Expendables 2. The two biggest things missing were more playful banter and Chuck Norris’ lone wolf.

2 Antonio Banderas seemed to be genuinely ecstatic to be in this film.

3 Great opening and closing action sequences but the middle was pretty slow. I didn’t know or care much for the next generation, just give me the classic has-beens like Wesley Snipes.

4 I assumed that Harrison Ford would just have a cameo but he got some good screen time taking over for Bruce Willis. Love his scene on the phone when Stallone is interpreting for Stratham instead of the other way around. 

5 Martin Riggs vs Rocky Balboa? How is that evenly matched in a fist fight?

RECOMMENDATION: Action on big screen, story at home
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Let’s Be Cops, Sin City 2