The Expendables was hyped up by Sylvester Stallone, who wrote, directed as well as starred in the film. He said he wanted to put together the most awsome bunch of action film actors and make a great action movie like they did in the 80s. It sounded great. A promising cast including legendary action stars like Dolph Lundgren and Jet Li as well as more recent action stars like Jason Statham.

There are several things kinda wrong with the film and one of them is just the way that both Sylvester Stallone and Mickey Rouke look. If that's what plastic surgery does to you then no thanks. The second major problem is the action scenes. Sly knows how to do big ballsy action involving guns and explosions and there are loads to keep you happy. The problem is dealing with martial arts. Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren are under used with little proper martial arts being used and when they do the scenes are not cut to show off the moves. Unlike John Woo who always manages to make every kick and punch look visually cool. Stallone also casts the main love interest for his character and this just seems a little unlikely when the lady in question meets both Stallone and Statham for the first time. Surely a hot young latino type would go for Statham? Not in this film. Another actor who seems a little out of place is David Zayas, who in Dexter is brilliant, he just doesn't seem mean enough to be a dictator.

Otherwise the film has some funny wisecracks, includes cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger and has some great pyrotechnics.
It's fun but could have been much better if Stallone had allowed another action director to take over the reins.