Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Legendary action cast teams up for violent, racist muddle.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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The Expendables
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Based on 43 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a highly regarded action thriller that features a stellar cast and delivers plenty of thrilling action sequences, albeit with excessive violence and strong language that might not be suitable for younger audiences. Many viewers find the movie entertaining with its mix of intense battle scenes and lighthearted moments, while others criticize its lack of plot depth and over-the-top gore.
- action-packed
- intense violence
- strong language
- iconic cast
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and his team of THE EXPENDABLES (Jason Statham, Jet Li, etc.) are hired for a nearly impossible job involving a rogue CIA agent (Eric Roberts) who's taken over the drug trade on a small island and converted the local General Garza (David Zayas) into his puppet. Barney initially decides the job isn't worth the money, but then the General's daughter, Sandra (Giselle Itié), changes his mind; she truly believes in fighting for a cause, the way Barney did before he became a mercenary for hire. So the team storms the island with full force and brutal firepower, this time for all the right reasons. Can they survive the impossible odds that await?
Is It Any Good?
Sadly, Stallone's movie is a giant mess and a wasted opportunity. The Expendables has too many characters for any to develop any kind of depth: Lee (Statham) is upset about his girlfriend, Yin Yang (Li) has a complex about his size, Gunner (Dolph Lundgren) is on drugs and out of control, etc. Writer-director Stallone misses his chance to be playful, or -- better still -- to deliver a commentary on action movies in general.
Then there's his action footage, which is among the worst ever filmed. It's shaky and hacked up to the point of inducing headaches, and it's often difficult to tell which player is which. A fight between Li and Lundgren should have been an enticing draw, but instead it's ridiculous and mushy. Fortunately, Mickey Rourke is absolutely superb in his few scenes as a burned-out former team member, ruminating about his lost path in life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Expendables. How did it affect you? Did it seem over the top? Why, or why not?
What did Barney learn over the course of the movie? Did any of the other Expendables share his journey? Are they heroes? What kinds of traits do heroes have?
Many of the characters in the film smoke. How does this make them look? Do they seem cool? Do you think that was the intent?
How does the movie portray women? What about Black, Latino, and Muslim people? Does this seem true to life or stereotypical? Who do stereotypes harm?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 13, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : November 23, 2010
- Cast : Jason Statham , Jet Li , Sylvester Stallone
- Director : Sylvester Stallone
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong action and bloody violence throughout, and for some language
- Last updated : December 11, 2024
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