Best Action of Summer 2010By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time," "Cinema Classics," and "On the Marquee"
"If the money's right, we don't care where the job is." Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone)
I spend much of my film criticism time looking for quality films that I can praise and recommend; too often they're like Mademoiselle Chambon-- European and chatty. So how do I handle a guilty pleasure like Sylvester Stallone's action-overloaded Expendables? I advise, let yourself indulge, give yourself to the Rocky /Rambo retro-king, and enjoy the best cheesy pulp this summer 2010 (I know?The A-Team, Salt, and Knight and Day are the weak competition).
Barney Ross (Stallone), a fit and aging adventurer, signs with his buddies, including the lethal Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), to overthrow General Garza (David Zayas) and the CIA rogue James Munroe (Eric Roberts), drug lords from a minor island. Because of the involvement of Garza's beautiful and estranged daughter, Sandra (Giselle Itie), Ross is highly motivated?the result is mayhem on a small Michael Bay scale but far more entertaining.
Stallone is robust and sharp and Statham as Transporter-dangerous as ever. When they are flying their amphibious plane, the shots are so process-looking as to reinforce the idea that director Stallone is winking at the comic-book roots and our own recollection of pre-digital action poverty.
The brief scenes with Bruce Willis and the un-credited cameo by Arnie are just the right touches of nostalgia and sarcasm to remind how much we miss these iconic albeit aging heroes. In addition, Eric Roberts has never been oilier, and the drug business never as vulnerable.
But then, no drug lords could ever withstand Rocky and Rambo at the same time.
John DeSando co-hosts WCBE 90.5's It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee, which can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.RR.com