Movie Review - The Expendables 3

The Expendables 3 ** (PG-13) If anyone’s still paying attention, most watched the first two for the fun of seeing Sylvester Stallone lead a bunch of middle-aged and upwards action stars through what might prove to be the last time one or more of them will be able to blow up a slew of movie thugs and their minions. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis ranked among the elders, with Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li and Jason Statham among those watching their sagging flanks. Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme showed up for the second installment. This one adds Wesley Snipes and Harrison Ford!! Heavy armaments and over-the-top action, laced with macho humor, oughtta be loads of fun in such hands. That was kinda true for the first two.

This one starts well with two big-scale sequences, before taking a bad turn. After losing too many pals, Sly decides to protect his remaining fellow geezers from their sense of duty, replacing them with four younger mercenaries for the next big mission. Whatever skills these new characters may have, the actors playing them are generically bland, and minimally developed. Presumably, they’re being introduced as franchise insurance - The Next Generation - but who’s gonna care, besides their agents? This engine runs on star power and nostalgia, as exemplified by Wesley Snipes delivering the film’s funniest line.

There’s little downside in waiting for the DVD of this one, so you can fast-forward through the dull parts and still get the grins and adrenaline rushes the icons can still provide. (8/15/14)