The Expendables 2

THE EXPENDABLES 2

Director : Simon West

Year : 2012

Genre : Action

Rating : ***

From the end of my review for 'The Expendables' -

''Whilst I am interested in seeing what a new director does with these characters, I am expecting more dumb action scenes with indescribably long explosions and shootouts which quickly become tiresome. If so, then I will know what to expect, but judging how bored I got through this movie, I expect to be doubly bored by it's sequel. However, I may be wrong and 'The Expendables 2' could turn out to be the 'Citizen Kane' of action movies. Watch this space......'' 

As previously noted, I wasn't too impressed by Sylvester Stallone's explosion filled action bonanza 'The Expendables', which I found to be boring, predictable and formulaic. While providing a few laughs, the movie was entirely forgettable and after a month since seeing it, most of 'The Expendables' has escaped my memory. Two years later, 'The Expendables 2' brings back all of the action heroes from the original as well as the knowing self - reflexive humour which while seeming prefunctory in the 2010 film, fits well into the narrative and coincides well with the postmodern and parodic nature of the sequel. While no masterpiece, 'The Expendables 2' is much more fun and engaging than it's predecessor and though it is far from perfect, the movie is one of the more entertaining and absorbing action films of 2012.

'The Expendables 2' continues the story of the famed group of mercenaries who are once again bought together by Mr. Church for an easy paycheck. However, after the death of one of their own at the hands of an international arms dealer named Vilain, The Expendables quest changes to prevent the deaths of hundreds of foreign workers who are mining a radioactive element for Vilain, whilst also seeking revenge for the murder of one of their own.

The director Simon West is best known for 1997's 'Con Air', one of the better Nicolas Cage movies and more generic fare such as 'Lara Croft : Tomb Raider' and the unnecessary remake of the 1979 slasher 'When A Stranger Calls'. Within 10 minutes, it becomes clear that the tone and attitude is very different to Stallone's overserious original. The movie takes its subject less seriously, creating a more relaxed and fun atmosphere. The director and the cast clearly know that the film is ridiculous and is essentially a send up of the silly 1980's action movies that gave many of the starring actors a name in the first place. Everything from the 'Die Hard' to 'The Terminator' franchises are parodied and I have to hand it to the actors that they take the mockery and parodic nature with such a good natured, tongue in cheek attitude. Fans of cheesy action films will enjoy the references and catchphrases used and watching legends sending up their own success will never become dull to me.

As well as the regulars, 'The Expendables 2' stars a few more action legends that really should have been in the original. These include Jean - Claude Van Damme as the main antagonist Vilain and Chuck Norris, who will be a welcome addition to 'The Expendables' series. Amazingly the list of actors who turned down parts is just as long as the set cast, which includes Antonio Banderas, Jackie Chan, John Travolta and confusingly Nicolas Cage. Maybe 'The Expendables 3' will star one of the biggest ensemble casts in movie history but who knows? Possibly Liam Neeson or Samuel L. Jackson could get onboard as well....

The action is directed surprisingly well and the same kinetic energy that made 'Con Air' so entertaining is exhibited well throughout the movie. In the same way that 'Scream' parodied horror movies and 'Airplane!' parodied disaster movies, 'The Expendables 2' cleverly parodies the dumb, explosion filled action movies that took up most of my time as a kid. A certain scene involving Willis and Schwarznegger really made me laugh and was actually one of the cheesiest, knowingly silly scenes from 2012.  The script is basically non - existent, with explosions and gunfire forming the movies dialogue. People speak with bullets and knives rather than words and as a fan of action films, that suits me down to a tee. I hope Michael Bay watches this movie, because maybe then he will learn that action movies can be fun, entertaining and clever, rather than pornographised, borderline racist, tedious explosion filled nightmares with migraine inducing CGI.

Usually movies that ignore the laws of physics and replace dialogue with gunfire would annoy me immensely, just like 'The Expendables' did. But it becomes quickly clear that this movie is a straight parody and to me, 'The Expendables 2' is one of the best send ups released in years. When we have had to put up with hideous Friedberg and Seltzer 'parody' movies such as 'Meet The Spartans', 'Disaster Movie' and 'Vampires Suck' recently and it has taken Simon West this long to show filmmakers how to make a proper postmodern movie. If only West had taken the time to develop the characters more and explore their reasonings, I would rate this film higher. But for what we have, 'The Expendables 2' is possibly the best parody of action movies we could have right now. And for that, we can't complain.

You will like this if you liked : The Expendables & Die Hard