6/16/19 - Triple Threat - 5-/10

Predator dances with Rambo, who mingles with Bloodsport, before we get a revenge action back-and-forth, ending in an action movie nerd debate come to life. It is never as good as any of those, but it is fun and scratches a particular itch fairly well. The intrigue was fairly nonexistent, but I was here to see someone get blown up with a grenade and some dream match-ups, and it delivered on those worldly desires.

This “Expendables but not too damn old” focuses on action. There is plenty of gun-play and martial displays, but I could have used a skosh more. It is nice to see action icons like Adkins and White get plenty of screen time and heft in something I was interested in. I could have used a little more of them roughing some fools up, but they are icons of the genre and have put in their time. Yanin and Bisping could have have had a bigger slice of the pie, but they did let Tiger Hu Chen show his stuff. It might not fully deliver, but I like being thrown a bone that I don’t choke on. I must say that Uwais makes Jaa begin to look old, but Tony can still kick it.

It is tropey, muddled with “mystery” plotline, and can only manage a limited range of anything. But, for what it wants to be and tries to do, it is fine, passable, and even pretty ok. Fun for those in the know, with enough fan service to please. 

If you like this and haven’t seen Chocolate, the Undisputed series, The Night Comes for Us, or Man of Tai Chi, you might like them.