Just returned from the matinee....
First off, the movie is completely predictable and action movie formula.
But with that said, I found it very enjoyable. In fact, I think I enjoyed it best of the 3 movies.
The cast is massive, and the story struggles at times to juggle them all and it is not entirely successful.
The first act is basically the Old Expendables, the second act is the Expendables the Next Generation, and then the third act is them all together.
Jet Li is little more than a cameo in the end. He has even less to do than the second movie. They did not even give him a brief martial arts gag.
Wesley Snipes was AWESOME! Great to see him back in action. He has not lost a beat.
Antonio Banderas was a complete surprise! He was HILARIOUS! I loved him.
Harrison Ford replaces Bruce Willis and does his now standard grumpy old man routine. Though he has some funny lines about Stratham that made me howl.
Kelsey Grammar was great in his small role as the new team recruiter.
The new generation of Expendables were good, but the Old Guard out shine them considerably and it is clear why they are/were the stars they are.
Arnold was Arnold... though I think he looked more fit this time, maybe shaping up for the new Terminator and Conan movies?
Strangely, I thought Mel Gibson was just okay. His performance felt a bit phoned in. He never achieved the CRAZY INSANE LETHAL WEAPON Mel that the script called for. He definitely did not bring the same fun menace that JCVD did in the last one.
I think the movie would have benefited by being a R rating instead of PG-13. And based on how many of the action scenes were shot and cut, I expect we will get an Unrated DVD edition later on.
So I would give the movie a 7 out of 10 but it is a good fun seven. Too bad the movie seems to be bombing at the box office, because I would love to see another sequel or two from these guys.
