Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
More riffing, fighting, shooting, explosions in fourth film.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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Expend4bles
What's the Story?
In EXPEND4BLES, returning characters Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), and Toll Road (Randy Couture) -- along with newcomers Gina (Megan Fox), Easy Day (Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson), Galan (Jacob Scipio), and Lash (Levy Tran) -- head to Libya on a mission to intercept several detonators. The mission goes badly, perhaps due to intel leaked by a traitor. Barney's plane crashes, and Lee is expelled from the outfit for disobeying orders. The remaining team members go after the villain responsible, Rahmat (Iko Uwais), on a ship headed for Russia. The team is captured, but fortunately, Lee has tracked them -- and brought help in the form of Barney's old pal Decha (Tony Jaa). They discover a nuclear device that's designed to start WWIII, and so they must defeat Decha's army, take control of the ship, and discover who Decha's boss, the mysterious, evil "Ocelot," really is.
Is It Any Good?
This one isn't the worst entry in the series, but it's not very good, either; it has a few amusing character moments and some decent fights, but most of it is draggy and repetitive. Like so many sequels, Expend4bles (a cute way of re-wording The Expendables 4), feels more like the people involved are more concerned with collecting a paycheck than expressing a burning desire to make a movie and tell a story. But at least the guys (Stallone, Statham, Lundgren, and Couture) who've made it through all four movies now have an easy camaraderie with each other. Jaa makes an interesting addition as a former fighter who's chosen peace over violence, explaining that each time he killed, it took a little bit more of his soul. (Of course, he eventually leaps back into the fray, but at least he tried.) On the other hand, it's disappointing that the most promising of this bunch, Uwais -- of the excellent movies The Raid: Redemption and The Raid 2 -- is cast as the villain.
Director Scott Waugh handles things as usual in this series, with a few neatly choreographed grapples, but also with a great deal of numbing jumble. The shootout aboard the ship could have been exciting, but instead it's like a countdown until the showdown; how many more guys do they have to shoot before we can get out of here? Expend4bles makes you wonder whether this aging series has finally lived up to its title.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Expend4bles' violence. How did it affect you? What impact did it have?
What is the nature of revenge? Can it be satisfying? Why? Can it ever truly solve a problem?
Many of the characters smoke and drink. How does this make them look? Do they seem cool? Do you think that was the intent?
What's the appeal of the movie's veteran action heroes, whose careers range over several decades? How do they compare with the younger characters?
Do you consider any characters here to be role models? Do they present an unrealistic body image?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 22, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : November 14, 2023
- Cast : Jason Statham , Sylvester Stallone , Megan Fox , Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson
- Director : Scott Waugh
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Bisexual Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong/bloody violence throughout, language and sexual material
- Last updated : October 17, 2023
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