It would sound mean to hope third time’s a charm with the would-be Dream Team of action movie series “The Expendables,” but we’re still waiting for it all to click.<\/p>\n
The first go-around with Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) and Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) kind of stunk, full of choppy set pieces and uncomfortable comedy. The second brought a little more to the table, namely more Arnold Schwarzenegger and the additions of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris.<\/p>\n
Still, it felt a little cheap despite the upgrades. On paper, “The Expendables” sounded like a can’t-miss for action maniacs, with Stallone taking the lead of a star-studded adventure complete with the genre’s best and brightest of generations new and old. But with few hints of irony, poorly shot action sequences, wooden acting and whatnot, they didn’t totally gel.<\/p>\n
So let’s hope third time’s a charm, as Sly and his gang return for another go-around in “The Expendables 3,” under the direction of Patrick Hughes (“Red Hill”).<\/p>\n
Arnold is back, while new casting additions include Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Kelsey Grammer (huh?) and a few more (I personally like seeing B-movie vet Robert Davi on the list here).<\/p>\n
The new teaser trailer offers us very little other than some graphics set to a heavy metal rendition of the whistle theme from “Bridge on the River Kwai,” then a shot of the stars walking into frame to form a lineup so far away from the camera that I’d believe you if you told me Carrot Top had joined the crew.<\/p>\n
The film opens Aug. 15, 2014. Watch the trailer below:<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OuXkXJ1fPuk