Millennium Media, Nu Boyana Studios, Templeton Media, Grobman Films and Media Capital Technologies’ The Expendables 4 (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; A) is the fourth in the The Expendables series.
The Expendables — Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Easy Day (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson), Dolph Lundgren (Gunner Jensen), Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Galan (Jacob Scipio) — are sent to Libya to keep mercenary Suarto Rahmat (Iko Uwais) from stealing nuclear warheads for Ocelot whose identity is unknown. Barney Ross had, 25 years ago, failed to apprehend Rahmat. Now, in the present day, the Expendables’ team is incapacitated when all of their vehicles are destroyed in the ensuing fight, and Barney is killed once the plane he is in, is shot down. CIA operative Marsh (Andy Garcia) asks the team to go after Ocelot and Rahmat, but without Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) because, according to him, he had jeopardised the mission while trying to save Barney. Lee is replaced by Gina (Megan Fox), his former girlfriend, who also brings female operative Lash (Levy Tran) into the team.
The team travels to Asia, but is secretly trailed by Lee Christmas. Soon, it is revealed that Ocelot plans to start World War III by letting the nuclear warheads explode in the Russian Far East, transporting them on a ship disguised as an American aircraft carrier. As the Expendables and Marsh board the ship, they are ambushed and taken hostage. Marsh is taken away to negotiate a prisoner exchange for the eyewitness who could identify Ocelot. Meanwhile, Christmas travels to Thailand to recruit former Expendable Decha (Tony Jaa), who agrees to bring him to the ship to avenge Barney. Christmas and Decha rescue the rest of the team. They launch an attack on Rahmat’s forces, during which Christmas kills him. However, Toll Road has been heavily wounded and needs immediate medical attention. While the team leaves on Decha’s boat to save Toll Road, Christmas stays behind to turn the ship around to avoid a global conflict. He confronts Marsh. What happens thereafter?
Spenser Cohen, Kurt Wimmer and Tad Daggerhart have written a story which lacks novelty. The screenplay — by Kurt Wimmer, Tad Daggerhart and Max Adams — is fast-paced and quite engaging but the fact remains that the drama is predictable.
Jason Statham is very likeable as Lee Christmas. Sylvester Stallone does a fine job as Barney Ross. Megan Fox is impressive in the role of Gina. Iko Uwais makes his presence felt as Suarto Rahmat. Andy Garcia performs ably as Marsh. Dolph Lundgren is effective as Gunner Jensen. Tony Jaa has his moments as Decha. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is good as Easy Day. Jacob Scipio is endearing as Galan. Randy Couture leaves a mark as Toll Road. Levy Tran is alright as Lash. Lucy Newman-Williams lends able support as Russo. Others are adequate.
Scott Waugh’s direction is quite nice. Guillaume Roussel’s background music is impactful. Tim Maurice-Jones’ cinematography is excellent. Production designing (by Ricky Eyres) is of a fine standard. Michael J. Duthie’s editing is reasonably sharp. Dubbing is nice.
On the whole, The Expendables 4 is too routine to make a mark at the box-office.
Released on 22-9-’23 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PVR Pictures Ltd. Publicity: so-so. Opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was below the mark almost everywhere.
