Patrick Hughes directs The Expendables 3, where new blood join the old guard group and both are out for revenge.
After breaking out his old comrade, Barney discovers his old adversary Stonebacks is also back. From the explosive opener, the introduction of the new characters to even more explosive finale, this film brings out the big guns in more ways than one.
Writer and actor Sylvester Stallone does what he does best as Barney, a fighter with a conscious who is trying to keep his friends safe. Jason Statham once again delivers his rough edge charm as does Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Dolph Lungren. Screen heroes Wesley Snipes, Harrison Ford, Antonio Banderas and even Kelsey Grammer make for fun additions to the roll call, with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jet Li putting in a couple of extended cameo performances. Newcomers Glen Powell, Victor Ortiz, Ronda Rousey and Kellan Lutz put in a solid show, but it’s Mel Gibson who steals the show as the film’s resident psycho.
The plot is pretty simple. Barney discovers Expendables traitor Stonebacks is alive and sets out to kill him. To protect his old friends he hires a new younger team of Expendables, and all hell breaks loose. Though the plot is simple it does take a drastic turn a third of the way in. The appeal of the franchise is based on fans seeing the action starts they grew up with all in one film, but this movie puts those old stars to one side to introduce a comparably unknown set of younger actors. This wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but the way the new characters are introduced is the weakest part of the film, combined with the fact the more interesting older actors are off screen a large part of the middle of the film exacerbates the issue further.
The film is on safer ground by the end, when the old guard and young crew combine with explosive results. With the action based around stunts rather than CGI, when the film does finally get into gear there are some genuinely well put together actions pieces, especially one involving a motorbike jump. There is a slight issue that all the enemies in this film can’t seem to shoot straight. It’s a problem that effects all action films, but considering the size of the opposition in this film you would expect higher injury rate amongst the Expendables.
A solid start, a saggy middle but picks up at the end, The Expendables 3 proves there’s life in the old dog yet.
‘The Expendables 3’ opens in cinemas around the UK from August 14th.
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