Movie: The Expendables 3

It's refreshing to just have the number rather than a long, unmemorable name for the third in the series isn't it?Yes it is toned down (12a) but still a must see for me. In fact, I was so excited about it I went to see it on a Thursday rather than the usual Friday afternoon cinema slot. It’s only when I get I take my seat I wonder what will I see tomorrow then? (There wasn’t anything else to see).I read somewhere the combined age of the main cast is 850, made up of mostly 50 something’s but this time they’ve bought in some young’uns too.My questions start when the story begins: the Expendables are breaking out a maximum security prisoner from a  moving train. We learn he’s an Expendable, so why was he left in prison for so many years? We gloss over how he’s got the energy to crack jokes and stand, never mind fight the bad men before he’s even had a shower.But this is the Expendables world and they all go on to the main plot, stopping a ruthless arms dealer and former Expendable (the return of Mel Gibson) from putting more weapons into the hands of bad guys. They fail.With the Expendables getting on a bit, Barney (Stallone) decides to retire them unceremoniously, looking out for their best interests and he hires a new young team, one that he has no emotional attachment too, for the final mission. The scene stealer is Galgo (Antonio Banderas). I thought he’d let up on the over-talkative, over-friendly, over-enthusiasm but no it gloriously it stayed all the way to the end of the film! And yes it’s only funny the first time Arnie throws in famous quotes from his previous films but it wouldn’t be the same without him.It’s never going to be as good as the first (or second) one and I didn’t think they added anything by bringing in the ‘young’ Expendables but perhaps it bought them a new audience.Who knows.7½/10Smile factor 8½/10