With The Expendables 4 coming out this year, let’s take a look at the appeal of The Expendables (2010). The film that started it all for better or worse and became Lionsgates hit action series, with Stallone steering the ship into financial success and stardom.
Its time to think of The Expendables as an action drama with a group of real men at its core, having more development than one would expect. Ultimatley, its the scenes between the action that really stand out.
In 2010, came the unique and original concept of taking cinemas most cherished action stars, perhaps of the century into one film, bringing together a multi-generation fanbase of action fans, and the film itself more or less flopped with critics, but its box office was big enough to get the sequels in the making.
Take a group of well-acclaimed actors, fierce and powerful but show them as men, real men, that’s the niche and USP. The film works as one big success for the Box Office, but also as a great concept for a film, with down to earth characters with cherished experiences.
However, Stallone took a lot of hefty risks with this project, which includes some of the castign choices. He chose to select great action legends but also world champion athletes including the comedic Terry Crews who steals the show with his guns in the final act. What a way to save the day.
Back in 2010, The Expendables was marketed as a straight forward B action film, showcasing little to no substance. This was done intentionally to bring in a larger audience to generate higher box office growth, but actually the film deals with a lot more complex themes about manhood and life in general, with the carnage and explosions.
Its only the sequel that really blows the roof open with the ridiclious premise, showcasing a lot more self aware humour dating back to their iconic roles as Rocky, terminator, Rambo and the addition of Chuck Norris, who no one can take seriously, in a good way though.
Although the film has some flaws here and there, to me it’s a very nostalgic film that holds a nice place in my heart for love for explosive action scenes and just a masculine time at the movies. However, Stallone took a very unique approach to the film, one which I think threw audiences and critics off the project. Let’s discuss.
The tone of The Expendables was much more serious than we were expecting, actually involving a narrative that took place in the heart of Brazil, taking the crew to care about something far deeper than a typical B action shoots ’em up flick.
Some of the common complaints by critics was the generic nature of the film, Stallone leads his men through an onslaught of beautiful balleigh with bullets. There is some Lovely use of physical performance in the fight choreography, especially with Jet Li and Statham. Although, Stallones classic theme of mercenaries gets washed down by a generic plot setting, resulting in a film that you have probably already seen in the genre a thousand times.
Whenever the film takes us to the actual plot with Eric Roberts and Steve Austin, I found myself wanting to spend more screen time with the leads. The film also stars Mickey Rourke, who gets his supposed oscar written scene, where he discusses some of his regrets and how he wants to die for something that counts.
It’s a very well delivered scene, but it doesn’t quite fit in the film. Early on, the film establishes that reality is’nt really the selling point, with men being blown in half, literally. Perhaps, the film is an action drama with moments of comedy, but drama is the key word there, despite the blown to shreds action scenes.
The opening starts off as a realistic documentary, with the camera shaking and themes of pirates, but as soon as we get introduced to all The Expendables, that’s when the fun starts. Bullets start spraying, men start dying, knives start penetrating the bad guys, the crew fly away in their vintage plane with some rock and roll music, we now have our movie and I was totally on board and interested in these characters who have these quirky and dynamic qualities.
Heading straight into production, Stallone liked the idea of the ensemble western genre, taking a group of mysterious men who are legends in their own right, but they each have an understated appeal. Stallone wanted to share something in common to the audience and you do get that in The Expendables, it’s the idea of taking the whole crew into something dangerous, unfamiliar and unpredictable as they take down one huge army, making them essentially the underdogs, which is’nt the only time Stallone has included this theme into his films, other occasion includes Rocky.
The more familiar element on the film is the chemistry between Statham and Stallone, who are two action legends who have emerged from two different generations of cinema, one representing the more modern and mainstream aspect being Statham with his Transport action series and the other presenting the vintage mechanics of action cinema, Stallone, but the two can hold a screen very well and work together in some wickedly cool action scenes, including the plane scene.
Surisingly though, Stallone decides to focus more of the character development on him, Statham, and Lundgren. Dolph Lundgren’s character is very interesting, a very tough guy who has this unpredictable side to him that causes the crew a few nightmares, especially the fight he has with Jet Li.
Gunner has become the series most utlised and developed character of the bunch who really has a mysterious edge but knows exactly how to dismantle his enemies. He is one of the series most loyal actors at this point and is set to reprise his role in the fourth installment.
You get the sense throughout the film, excluding the finale that these guys are’nt really superhero’s, they are actually very damaged men who have a really important and shared commodity between each other. Its not until the end, where we really see them make the most of their lives, by coming together to fight against waves of enemies and it comes across as if they have accepted themselves and this deadly situation that they’re in.
Its a moral pull, as Stallone has stated excellently in previous interviews that these guys need friends at the end of the day, a lovely contrasting theme to the lonliness of manhood and washed away potential. All they have is each other, a theme we can all relate to in some way or another. They are all selfless and will fight for each other and for the better until the end and its sequel continues that in fine fashion.
If you attempt to take the film a little more seriously than you would expect, the film is easily the best of out the three and is far less cartoony then the latter sequels, which I think came across as more studio experiments rather than having a narrative that had a more deeper purpose, but they still work as solid entertainment, with some nice touches of drama here and there, thanks to the addition of better actors.
Obviously, the best part to this film, in particular, is the action, despite some exaggerated blood splatters it does have a very physical quality to it, with great stuntwork and very brutal kills. Stallone really put himself in the fight with Steve Austin, displaying crazy dedication to his role. The last action sequence is magnificent, showcasing a selection of hand to hand fight scenes, AA-12 weaponry, explosions, just a beautiful onslaught of well timed madness.
I think the realistic quality to the fight scenes can be thanked to the way that they are filmed including the lighting and framing, adds to stronger, more relatable characters, because you don’t feel that these scenes exist in an alternative reality without consequences. The cinematographer is Jeffrey Kimball who lensed previous action flicks Mission Impossible 2, Paycheck, and Top Gun. The Expendables has a more realistic and hard-hitting look to it.
Sonme audiences may have forgotten but the cast is full of very exceptional actors. Yes, Bruce Willis had starred in Oscar-worthy pictures, establishing himself at one point as Hollywood’s leading male actors. Mickey Rourke and Stallone are both very serious actors, who have happened to star in some ridiculous films one of them being the now infamous Cobra in 86.
But, Stallone can direct very well, he seems to love the idea of bringing together serious themes on manhood, injustice in the world and realistic and brutal action scenes. 2 years prior, he directed the series most violent entry, Rambo (2008), with a sharp focus on horrific injustice but a sense of doing the right thing and the inner conflict that may bring. Stallone loves character studies with violence, usually on a big scale.
The music is another brilliant element to the picture, with Brian tyler bringing his best work to date, with a magnificent soundtrack where you can feel and breathe the love for heroes in every track, giving the action scenes a masculine and tense edge.
The film concludes even better with a humorous scene where the crew have a go hitting the target with their knives. The music choice and banter between the group just feels so infectious.
The film has one of the best steelbook editions, with fantastic artwork and additional features with bonus content to keep you up all night. The film’s extended cut is more violent and you get to understand Stallone’s directorial choices from all elements of production. You can purchase it here.
With a premise sufficient enough to be completely mindless, The Expendables has a lot more heart and grit than one would expect, featuring an onslaught of practical action scenes and moments of strong character development.
These themes are carried through the further sequels, with the second about revenge and the third a more personal theme on betrayal, featuring several icons of action cinema who can carry the drama through.
You can watch The Expendables Extended Edition on Amazon Prime UK.
What do you think of The Expendables?
Author Bio
Sam is a content writer. He loves all elements connected with film and writes with passion, always. You can find him on Linkedin, where you will be able to read more articles. When he is not writing, you can find him practicing football
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