The Expendables 2

It plays better than it reviews — the watch lands harder than the write-ups suggest.

• “The Expendables 2 offers the sendoff adrenaline junkies are seeking before the more sedate pace of fall releases.”

  Justin Lowe, The Hollywood Reporter · 80

• “This over-the-top sequel caters to the lowest common denominator in the best possible way, and it's so fully committed to brainless bombast that it muscles audiences to applaud by sheer force of will.”

  Amy Nicholson, Boxoffice Magazine · 80

• “It plays out like a series wet-dream scenarios, performed by a cast of vintage action figures battered and broken from overuse, bleached and slightly molted from sitting in the sun too long.”

  John Semley, Slant Magazine · 75

• “What a fun-dumb relief! In the isolationist Expendables world, all foreigners are bad news. All buddy bonding is done with a wink. All pretenses of art are checked at the door. Someone even says, ''I'll be back.'' (Guess who?)”

  Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly · 75

• “This muscle-bound meathead extravaganza is a sometimes blissfully cretinous endeavor, delivering the maximum firepower and zero brainpower its target audience expects.”

  Justin Chang, Variety · 70