SLY STALLONE LEADS THE EXPENDABLES 2

year: 2012 cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren rating: ***1/2

At the point where Jason Statham, posing as a cloaked priest inside a darkened church, reveals he’s mercenary Lee Christmas and, flashing a blade, says to his impending foe: “I now pronounce you man and knife,” any corny dialogue doesn’t matter.

Not even when Sylvester Stallone’s Barney Ross, after blasting a group of baddies, mutters “Rest in pieces,” does the cringe meter rise. Because in this second (and far superior) outing of THE EXPENDABLES, there are plenty of cool action scenes – and a simple yet dependable plot about stolen plutonium that can destroy the world.

With enough gunshots and explosions to fill a dozen action movies, this teamup, also including Dolph Lundgren as the spaced-out giant Gunner and newcomer Nan Yu as the female tekkie, works fine together. And putting the usual time-running-out plot aside, this is really about revenge after the youngest member of the group is murdered by the villain (named Vilian) played by Jean-Claude Van Damme.

So the big question: do legendary tough guys Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and “Lone Wolf” Chuck Norris have worthy input... or are they merely glorified cameos?

A little of both: as sporadic guest stars they come and go – but each has a few memorable gun-wielding scenes to matter. And with all the extra muscle including Terry Crews, Jet Li and Randy Couture, this is director Stallone’s ride. He's super pissed like RAMBO and yet, despite the heavy odds, remains in complete control.