‘Expend4bles’ Review – A Failed Mission

Synopsis: Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.

It’s not always easy to let go and accept change. Unfortunately, time catches up to us all. So the question becomes, do stick around and make sure that your legacy is remembered and respected, or ride off into the sunset? It’s only overstaying your welcome when you can’t adapt to the times. However, sometimes you have to pass the torch and hope for the best. It’s a decision we’ll all have to make at some point.

“We’re going to get the guy that did this to Barney.”

Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but retribution comes with a buffet of bullets and a side of throwing knives. Directed by Scott Waugh, Expend4bles fails to hit its target. Unfortunately, this is a failed mission. After an almost ten-year wait, the anticipation is over and the secret saviors are back. Well, not all of them. And what happened to the absent members that we’ve seen in past films? Your guess is as good as mine. Per usual, full explanations and attention to detail aren’t something you should expect from this installment or its predecessors. Not to mention, the franchise has always had weird race and gender dynamics. Nevertheless, you come for nostalgic one-liners, a barrage of bullets, and bundles of bodies hitting the floor. It delivers on those promises, however, in a less believable, lackluster, and uncharacteristic way. While one could argue that this is a franchise that knows itself, therefore, as an audience, we allow a certain amount of grace, like we do the Fast Franchise. Being self-aware isn’t enough when the other pieces of the whole don’t fit.

Looking back at Expendables 1 through 3, there is a certain grit, magnetism, badassery, and a moral code that made them special and sought after. Expend4bles seems to have misplaced most of that. The film only shines as much as it does because of the Atlas-like lifting done by Jason Statham. His charisma, fighting style, and sense of humor make it worth finishing. Also, the momentary team-up with Tony Jaa gives light to a pairing that needs a movie of their own. Anyway, while a story such as this, which has a team of trained and hardened killers on a mission that actually has an emotional impact that could rival the first movie, it is disregarded for the all too familiar task at hand. But explosions, right? On a positive note, besides the Megan Fox introduction and the initial bar scene, the first act is relatively solid.

“With every person you kill, you lose a little more of yourself.”

I hate to say it, but this film looks atrocious on more than one occasion. There are times when I thought that I was watching an unfinished product because of how much the VFX looked like a mid-2000s video game. Moreover, it’s what solidifies this Terry Crews-less outing as the worst of the four. To add to the frustration, there is a lack of surprises and Barney does a few things that seem to veer far from what he or anyone on his team would deem morally okay.

There are a few callbacks for those who have followed the franchise since 2010. There are also some memorable lines that you can use in your everyday life. However, this script lacks fresh ideas and originality. It’s safe to say that Expend4bles will only be fully enjoyed by those who didn’t see the other three. While some of the action sequences are fantastic, mostly when it is fist-to-face combat, it eventually feels tired and superfluous. The fight choreography looked good, the cinematography was impressive at times, and the costume design was aesthetically pleasing. Save your money on this one because Expend4bles is expendable. Its rewatchability is low.

Pacing & Pop

There’s rarely ever a pacing issue within this franchise, and this film is no different. There is action at every turn. However, its uptempo pace is what retains your interest as the action begins to feel repetitive. What popped for me were the scenes with actual hand-to-hand combat rather than bombs and bullets. 

Characters & Chemistry

Starring: Jason Statham, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Randy Couture, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, with Andy Garcia, and Sylvester Stallone

There’s only so much heavy lifting that Jason Statham can do to make this film work. With a lack of chemistry, familiar charm, or organic comedic moments, it all feels forced. 50 Cent didn’t have enough screentime or line to make his presence necessary and Megan Fox had too much. Fox simply felt out of place. Tony Jaa is easily the best addition and is still underutilized. While each member of the cast had a moment or two, there was no sense of cohesion.

Expend4bles is now in theaters as of September 22, 2023. Remain safe and pretend you’re happy with your life.

Rated: R

Runtime: 1h 43m

Director: Scott Waugh

Screenplay: Kurt Wimmer & Tad Daggerhart and Max Adams

Story: Spenser Cohen and Kurt Wimmer & Tad Daggerhart

Producers: Kevin King-Templeton, Les Weldon, Yariv Lerner, Jason Statham

Executive Producers: Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson, Robert Van Norden, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jonathan Yunger, Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg, Stephen Paul, Gareth West, Allen Dam, Michael S. Constable, Lati Grobman, Christa Campbell, Basil Iwanyk, Guymon Casady, Jon Feltheimer, Jason Constantine, Eda Kowan, Christopher Woodrow, K. Blaine Johnston

Co-Producers: Robert Earl, Gisella Marengo, Matt O’Toole

Co-Executive Producers: Vladimir D. Fernandes, Claiton R. Fernandes, Euzebio Munhoz Junior, Balan Melarkode, Victor Hadida

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DhlaBO-SwVE%3Fsi%3DycOpf5vhuOH9l6GZ