The Expendables 3

I saw The Expendables 3 in cinemas on Thursday 14th August.

Lots of stuff blew up in this movie. That's all.


Aha no but really, The first two Expendables movies were very actiony and explodey, so don't expect this one to be any different, because it's not. This third installment of the old-timers action franchise is toned down even more, what with the certificate being a 12A (the first was an 18 and the second a 15), but still enjoyable. 

The story goes that the old guys are, well, getting old, and a batch of bloodthirsty, cut-throat young'uns are drafted in to stop a mad, bad Mel Gibson from giving even badder baddies the means to make things go boom. Old team are annoyed. Young team are cocky. Chaos ensues, as well as many of the films laugh-out-loud one-liners, often delivered by Jason Statham in a wry tone of voice that betrays how much fun he is actually having, beneath all the pretended angst. (How much angst can a bald, relatively short, tough 47-year-old British man portray anyway?) Sylvester Stallone still mumbles, Dolph Lundgren still grunts. 
The new guys - well, the young new guys - aren't as well-known, much more rising stars than Hollywood's golden guys and girl. Perhaps the most recognisable of the lot is Kellan Lutz (of Twilight fame), who plays his role very well, effective preparing to nab Statham's seat and the quippy sidekick riding shotgun. He even has a motorcycle, a la Statham in the first film.
There are older new faces too... Mel Gibson, playing it very Mad Max and enjoying the hell out of his betrayed-bad-guy, delivering one particularly vehement speech with such relish you can almost feel his spit on your face (Eww I know, but you get my point). Harrison Ford is in there, being the "dad" who picks up the kids' mess when everything goes to pot, but having a go with a few of the boys' toys himself by the finale. It was Antonio Banderas for me who stole it. OH MY GOODNESS. He was like Zorro and Puss-in-Boots rolled together, with a few grey hairs and minus a few marbles. He was brilliant, one of the highlights, so so funny you'll be remembering his lines for days.

Overall, very enjoyable, silly, explodey fun.

RK.

*Short and sweet review today, as I'm off on holiday tomorrow!