Opening thoughts: Stallone’s ability to get Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis to share the screen together is a feat unto itself. That the movie’s pretty entertaining is a bonus.
Pros:- The incredible cast and chemistry - The exciting low-tech action set pieces - A capable action movie director; thanks Stallone - Plenty of self-referential jokes the audience can laugh at - The scene with Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and Willis is a gas
Cons:- An ordinary script with occasional cringe-worthy lines - Not giving Jet Li enough to do; he’s friggin’ third-billed - No particular emotional heft, except one scene with Rourke
Final word: The adrenaline rush of watching these tough guys do their thing on screen outweighs any script issues or lack of emotional substance. Seeing an old-fashioned action movie without computer generated robots or superheroes is exhilarating and reminds us of something we’ve almost lost.
Audience: Action movie fanboys
Rated R for strong action and bloody violence throughout, and for some language.
Reel Grade:
