Action movie starJean-Claude Van Dammehas enjoyeda long, illustrious careerin films portraying the hero.
‘The Expendables 2’ Embraces Action Movie Tropes
The Expendables 2works on multiple levels.
For example, Van Damme’s character is named Vilain (Get it?
Custom Image by Nimesh Niyomal
It’s a borderline parody of one, but the film embraces goofy tropes.
Van Damme’s performance as Vilainplays into the franchise’s over-the-top, outlandish style.
Van Damme’s Vilain is the typical action movie baddie.
Image via Lionsgate
He does something awful to the heroes, so they go on a mission to get some payback.
Vilain directs his thugs to kidnap local villagers, forcing them to work the mines to recover weapons-grade plutonium.
So, imagine what five tons would do.
Image via Lionsgate
Its very interesting, yeah?"
Its a balance that few action spectacles can manage.
Unfortunately,the franchise went downhill after the second entry.
The Expendables franchise became spoiled by success.
The threequel suffered from too many characters and subplots.
The Expendables hibernated for nine years until the fourth film,Expend4bles, hit theaters last year.
While the previous movies were bad in a fun way,Expend4blesis just a terrible, Z-grade action movie.
