You know, The Expendables 2 feels like that odd mash-up between a family reunion and a rally of muscle-bound action legends. So you got Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and Willis sharing the screen again, and it’s like your teenage dreams of total over-the-top action glory have come alive and thrown a rock concert just for you. I mean, it’s not exactly a masterpiece—a bit more like a gleeful hamburger with a side of machine gun fire.
The plot, let’s be honest, is flimsy, like a köttbullar (meatball) made with too much breadcrumbs. It’s there to keep everyone busy, running from explosive set-piece to explosive set-piece. But do we really care about the plot? Nah, we’re here to see these legends throw down. It’s the nostalgia and craziness of it all that you’re paying for. A true smörgåsbord of action sequences.
Speaking of nostalgia, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the first time I saw Rambo films on VHS back in the day. There was that sense of something larger than life. And seeing Dolph Lundgren on screen again? Pure joy. He was like our own Swedish action hero conquering Hollywood.
Then there’s JCVD, Jean-Claude Van Damme as the main villain, who adds a deliciously campy layer to his evil deeds. It’s like watching a crazed ballerina performing a death waltz.
Not everything clicks though. The banter sometimes falls flat, and the jokes can seem forced, like when you over-salt your pyttipanna. But I guess that’s part of the charm – the film knows it’s ridiculous and leans into it.
Maybe it’s nuts, but in these uncertain times, there’s something comforting about men with large guns and larger muscles saving the day. It’s as if they’re reminding us that no matter how absurd life gets, there’s always room for an epic explosion or two.
Anyway, if you want to lose yourself in a wild, testosteron-fueled ride, give it a go.
