Expendables 2: Geriatrics at it's best

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Expendables 2 takes off from where Expendables 1 left. Heavily testosterone loaded and high on action and stunts there is little room for anything soft or mushy or probably somber too. At the end of the film where Billy's girlfriend receives the parcel of money and Billy's letter also, looks like an afterthought and almost pushed in.

Right from the word go, Sly Stallone and his team (Jason Statham, Jet Li, Bruce Willis et al) are on an unleashed spree of mayhem and disorder. There is an hint of desperation too, perhaps because age is catching on or probably Geriatrics might fail to do the trick at a certain time. The combined age of all the lead actors in the movie put together is: 553 year. Pretty prehistoric stuff, one must say.

But, they speak very little and do a lot. Barney Ross and Trench (Sly Stallone and Arnie's character) do have occasional tiff and hate to be in each other's shoes. Infact the opening sequence where Barney and his men rescue Trench from a remote location in Nepal, the first opening line of Arnie is about his being feeling low and depressed for having to be saved by someone like Barney. Quite thrilling. Infact, Expendables 2 looks better, tighter and fitter because of more Arnie, more Bruce Willis and of course the wooden faced Jean Claude Van Dammne.

The plot is usual with loads of opportunity for each star to showcase himself or herself. There are moments of ups and downs but in the end, it is Barney Ross and his team all the way. However, this time, Arnie, Bruce Willis and lo and behold who else, CHUCK NORRIS, also chips in. Chuck has always been the lone Texas ranger in all his filmography and that was made evident here as well. Infact, the Expendable franchise really works because it merely extends the established brand image of the star in a new context. There is no attempt to create a new role or an image. This is where the films have done justice. For an avid Arnie fan (like me) or a Sly fan, or a Bruce Willis fan etc. etc. this is a moment to cherish and to reconciliation.

While watching through the film (with my son, who also enjoyed like me these vintage geriatric induced stars) I was wondering if our actions stars- Dharmendra (perhaps the only genuine one), Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Hemant Birje (who is that!), Ajay Devgun and Sanjay Dutt can team up together. Well Dharmendra as Barney Ross! Food for thought-Bollywood! I guess some white dressed producer might have started thinking on these lines.

Well Expendables 2 is a much see for action film fans and there are enough moments for fans to feast on:
Barney Ross:The leader of the Expendables. Lee Christmas:The Expendables' knife expert. Yin Yang:The Expendables' hand-to-hand combat expert. Gunner Jensen: A volatile member of the Expendables, nearly undone by years of combat stress and alcohol abuse, Booker: A retired military operative on a mission to save his old teammates. Jean Vilain: The leader of an opposing team of mercenaries known as the Sangs, Mr. Church: A secretive CIA agent, Trench: Ross' arch-rival and occasional ally. Hale Caesar: The Expendables' barrel-weapons specialist. Toll Road: The Expendables' demolitions expert, Billy the Kid: A former military sniper disenchanted after serving in Afghanistan. 

 What stay's on even after watching the movie. Willis's response to Arnie in a high pitched sequence, when Arnie's bullets have consumed- I'll be back. Willis says, "No you have come back enough, now it is my chance to come back".

Hilarious and definitely worth a dekko.


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