"The Expendable 2" makes improvements to the original

[rating=5]

Unfortunately, I think I’m one of the only people that really enjoyed the first “Expendables” movie, and also unfortunately, I don’t think I can really blame the many people who disliked it for doing so. In general, the original film was underwhelming and slightly disappointing. Well fortunately, the makers of “The Expendables” have learned from their mistakes and have come up with a movie that is better on every level.

The plot is very simple. Mr. Church (Bruce Willis, Die Hard) returns to request the help of Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone, Rocky) and the other expendables for a job that should be a walk in the park compared to their other blood-filled assignments. Well, the job doesn’t go exactly to plan and one of their team members is killed, forcing the expendables to take revenge-fueled action.

Unlike the first one, this movie took itself far less seriously and instead of trying to work on a plot that wanted to be thick, more focus was given to the action and the comedy. From the very beginning, the film is fast paced and violent, and for the most part, it doesn’t take its foot off the gas pedal. We wanted more blood, guns, and explosions, and “The Expendables 2” delivered.

This film also wasn’t afraid to nod at the fact that almost every actor in it had great standing at one time in the action genre and were getting old. Several remarks are made by Willis, Stallone, and Schwarzenegger about their own movies as well, including but not limited to likes like “I’ll be back” and “I’m back” and “Who’s next, Rambo?” It also was willing to allow Chuck Norris to be as awesome as we all know he is, and even delivers funniest line in the entire movie, hands down. I was laughing out loud more than once and the whole theater was laughing with me.

Although this film didn’t make its projected profit from opening weekend, I suspect it will make a comeback in the weeks to come. This movie is better than the first in every way, and eventually the word will get out and people will see it. After seeing this, I have both hope and desire for another “Expendables” movie, and I think others will as well. If you like action movies, “The Expendables 2” is a MUST.

“The Expendables 2” is rated R for strong bloody violence throughout (heads exploding, people exploding, explosions exploding, that sort of stuff).

Ben Asper