The Expendables 2

***
UK Release Date: August 16th 2012

Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat.

Director: Simon West (The Mechanic, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Con Air)

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Liam Hemsworth

The cast of Expendables 2 has grown considerably, but the story, which is a shame to say, has not. The story is just as predictable as the first, and relies heavily on reminiscing on fond memories of the 80's, more so now that Jean-Claude Van Damme has joined the cast.

It's a shame that this film follows the exact same formula. The band of meatheads are hired by Church (Willis). They have to kill someone who is heavily guarded. That much we do know. What should come as a surprise but fails to is the death of Barney's (Stallone) youngest member, Billy the Kid (Hemsworth). 

What should have been a breeze for them immediately turns in to a revenge mission. Liam Hemsworth's character shares stories from the past, and how after this 'last mission' he plans to settle down with the love of his life. It's done with full emotion but would've had greater impact had we not seen it coming. 

The Expendables 2 ups the ante on the shabby dialogue. Some are funny affiliations with certain actors (Stallone: I've heard that you were bitten by a King Cobra? Chuck Norris: Yeah I was. But after five days of agonising pain, the cobra died), but others fizzle out like a dud party popper.

The cast again is too big. Some are reduced to cameos (Li, Willis, Schwarzenegger, Norris), adding them so that popular A-listers are on the bill. Dolph Lundgren is a welcome return alongside Crews and Couture. Van Damme is a hoot and a half. His villain, named Vilain, is just as cheesy as his name implies. What's criminal is the little screen time he gets.

The bottom line is, if you enjoyed the crazy, mass carnage in the first film, this sequel is just as enjoyable, even with countless flaws and cheap one-liners.