The Expendables (2010)

My Review

Director Sylvester Stallone (“Paradise Alley” 1978) put together an action film where a group of elite mercenaries are hired to overthrow a Latin America dictator in “The Expendables.” They soon discover that the despot is actually a puppet of a renegade CIA agent. Loads of drama and action proceed from here!

Stallone and fellow screenwriter David Callaham do a good job with the storyline and the pacing of the film. Sly got good performances out an ensemble cast that consists of himself, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Andy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, Gary Daniels, Giselle Itie, Charisma Carpenter, with special cameo appearances by Bruce Willis as Mr. Church and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Trench Mauser. This uncredited cameo by Arnold was actually during his last year as Governor of California. Sly joked that Trench “wants to be President!”

The very watchable film “The Expendables” was a success at the box office for Lionsgate Films. It spawned three sequels, so far, in 2012, 2014, and 2023.