Movie Review : Expendables 4
EXPEN4BLES
Action star Sylvester Stallone played the lead and directed The Expendables (2010), the first film of the Expendables series which had Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren.
Its sequel, The Expendables 2 (2012) had Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Liam Hemsworth, Jean Claude Van Damme & Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The 3rd instalment, The Expendables 3 (2014) had Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford & Wesley Snipes.
Now, the 4th film of the series has Tony Ja, Curtis 50 cent Jackson, Megan Fox and Iko Uwais. The Expendables franchise has gained reputation for its action content of the highest order with a battalion of action heroes parading on the screen.
To avoid a war between USA and Russia, the dare-devil The Expendables team-the existing & the new- is assigned with the deadly mission of preventing a terrorist organisation helmed by Suarto Rahmat (Iko Uwais) who wants to steal nuclear missile detonators from a chemicals plant in Libya and sell it to a rich client with a hidden agenda, which may eventually ignite a war between the two super powers. The Expendables team get into action and move on.
What happens next?
Review:
The film has plenty of action scenes, from small fights in a pub0 to the bigger impactful action blocks on the Sea which include bombs, grenades, hand to hand combat and gunfights.
Stallone's presence leaves a mark and one wishes he had more scenes, especially with Statham, and his absence for the major part is clearly felt.
Statham and team try to prop it up but the film never quite gives you any goosebumpy moments. The writing doesnt quite help and there is clear absence of tension and elements of surprise.
Tony Ja's scenes bring the film to life somehow but that too only for the brief time he is in screen. Garcia tries his best but his character fails to create any real impact.
The petty home fights between Statham and Fox look sort of staged. The good guys stranded on the ship don't portraty any sense of urgency nor tension needed for an action film.
Overall the film leaves you a with an underwhelming feeling.
CREDITS
Cast-Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Megan Fox, 50 cent Jackson, Tony Ja, Iko Uwais etc
Cinematography-Tim Maurice-Jones Music-Guillame Roussel
The Expendable series is based on the characters created by David Callaham
PVR Pictures Release in English, Tamil, Telugu & Hindi (Sept. 22nd 2023)