Expendables 4 has achieved a rather unfortunate distinction within the franchise, as it now holds the lowest rating on Rotten Tomatoes compared to its predecessors.
Officially titled Expend4bles and hitting cinemas on September 22 (today ) the film has garnered a meager 15% rating among critics on the site.
This rating is notably less than half of its predecessor, Expendables 3, which received a 31% rating. The original Expendables earned a 41% rating, while the second installment scored considerably higher at 67%.
Expendables 4 features franchise regulars like Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, and Randy Couture, alongside newcomers Megan Fox and rapper 50 Cent.
The movie revolves around a mission to thwart terrorists who have stolen nuclear weapons, as teased in the trailer.
Importantly, this film marks Sylvester Stallone’s final appearance as Barney Ross, with Jason Statham’s character, Lee Christmas, taking center stage.
The fate of Barney Ross remains a mystery, and fans are left to speculate whether he will survive or make a triumphant exit.
With Stallone playing a supporting role in EXPEND4BLES, there are intriguing possibilities for how Lee will handle assuming leadership and potentially seeking retribution for a fallen comrade.
The Expendables represent the world’s last line of defense and are called upon when all other options have been exhausted.
Armed with an arsenal of weapons and the skills to use them, they find themselves joined by new team members with fresh approaches, injecting “new blood” into their operations.
Interestingly, Expendables 4 draws inspiration from the third Bad Boys movie, incorporating elements such as casting Jacob Scipio, who played a sub-villain in that film, a subplot involving Dolph Lundgren needing glasses, the introduction of a younger generation of characters to contrast with the seasoned veterans, and a fighter who is reluctant to engage in combat due to past trauma.
However, Expendfourbles lacks meaningful self-reflection and struggles with coherence in its plot.
Ultimately, Expendables 4 might appeal to ’80s action movie enthusiasts and die-hard Expendables fans, but its inconsistent quality makes it a challenging watch for others.
