CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON.

A group of highly skilled mercenaries led by Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is hired to take out the dictator of a South American island nation… but they soon learn the full picture.

Stallone gathered as many old-school action stars he could find (and approached many others who declined) for this adventure, a tongue-in-cheek action movie like they made ’em in the 1980s. Too bad Stallone couldn’t bother to bring in a writer to polish the script, which has far too many lulls.

Best bit: the awkward but oddly endearing reunion of three former Planet Hollywood owners.

2010-U.S. 103 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Sylvester Stallone. Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone, Dave Callaham. Cast: Sylvester Stallone (Barney Ross), Jason Statham (Lee Christmas), Jet Li (Ying Yang), Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Charisma Carpenter, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Steve Austin. Cameos: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis. 

Trivia: Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Forest Whitaker and Wesley Snipes were offered roles in the film. Also released in an 11 min. longer cut. Followed by three sequels, starting with The Expendables 2 (2012).