The first two Expendables movies are fantastic, the second one is a top action movie of all time for me. I thought that The Expendables 3 was a bit on the disappointing side, but I have to say, it was better than Expend4bles. I am not saying that Expend4bles is a bad movie, but it is by far, the weakest of the series so far.
How to Download Expend4bles
The fourth Expendables movie was released on September 22, 2023. You should probably wait about two months until it is available for download or streaming on digital platforms. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and check the current availability. And to see how it all began, start with The Expendables (2010).
The Movie Review
It took the better part of a decade to get this movie made so even though I thought the last outing was a bit of a letdown, I was still excited to see Stallone and the gang back. However, this is kind of like Expendables for the next generation! Most of the big 80s- and 90s-inspired Expendables cast is missing this time around.
Key Facts
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Expend4ables |
| Release Date | September 22, 2023 |
| Download and Streaming | Expected availability for download/streaming around two months after release (approximately November 2023). |
| Main Characters | – Jason Statham as Lee Christmas – Dolph Lundgren as Gunner Jensen – Randy Couture as Toll Road – Megan Fox as Gina – 50 Cent as [Easy Day] |
| Plot | The Expendables must stop a mystery villain known as Ocelot from kick-starting World War III. |
| Set Pieces | Notable scenes include a tension-filled moment between Jason Statham and Megan Fox. The trailer may have revealed some of the surprises. |
| CGI Quality | The CGI in Expend4ables has received criticism for its quality, with some comparing it unfavorably to older video game graphics. |
| Overall Review | Expend4ables is an average action movie, falling short of the charm and ensemble cast of its predecessors. |
New Cast and Lead
We still have Stallone as Barney, but he is hardly in the movie! Instead, we have Jason Statham’s Lee Christmas being the lead Expendable. Hey, I love Jason Statham and think he is typical Jason Statham in this movie. However, when only he and Dolph Lundgren’s Gunner Jensen and Randy Couture’s Toll Road are the main members of our original crew, I cannot lie, that is a huge disappointment.
The Charm of the Originals
There are a bunch of new members to the team some of whom such as the always super hot Megan Fox and 50 Cent are awesome additions. However, I feel like this new team lacks the charm and epicenes that we had kind of taken for granted in the last three movies. The Expendables 3 had perhaps a too-overstuffed cast, but I would take that over this in a heartbeat!
Plot and Predictability
The plot of the movie revolves around a mystery villain known as Ocelot. Ocelot plans to kick start World War III and our Expendables need to stop him, the mystery of the movie is who is he? It is pretty damn obvious who he was and also, I have to say that the big twist right at the end was also pretty predictable. Hey, but if there is lots of epic action, we can forgive a predictable plot, right?
Standout Set Pieces
There are some cool set pieces in the movie. The sexually tension-filled scene with Jason Statham and Megan Fox is great, it would have been even greater had the trailer not spoiled it! I have to say that Jason Statham is the absolute star here, but that is part of the problem with the movie, it feels more like a typical Jason Statham action movie than an Expendables one and that is coming from Someone who loves it when Jason Statham is being Jason Statham in a movie!
CGI Critique
Expend4bles had been out for a few days before I managed to go and see it and I kept reading about how bad the CGI was. Let me tell you, the CGI is as bad as everyone says it is, this may sound crazy, but it is worse than the CGI in The Flash! It legit looks like a cut scene from a PlayStation 3 game, but that may be a bit harsh on the good old PS3.
Final Verdict
Look, I know I have spent most of this review bitching about Expend4bles, but it is not because I hated the movie! I wanted to like this, I wanted it to be better than the last one, but the fact of the matter is that this is a very average action movie. Which to be honest is still a good time in places.
The Expendables 3 at its core was an average action movie too, but it got by thanks to the crazy ensemble cast that it had and the action was done way better than here. I will have to pick this up when it is released on 4K and see if it is better a second time around as I really want to love this movie! It is not horrible, but do not go in expecting this to be as good as the first two movies!
