Like a fine wine, and the actors themselves starring in the movies, “The Expendables” franchise has only gotten better with age and experience.
The first was a typical bro movie: action heroes, explosions, car chases. Then we sprinkled in a bit of Schwarzenegger, Van Damme, Willis, and the ultimate in all bad-assery, Chuck Norris. Among the explosions was a decent story line and knee-slapping wit. I’m not even a bro, and I loved “Expendables 2.”
You’d think that with a third, it could only get better, right? Well, I’m a bit concerned.
The cast is stacked; that’s no secret. But there is one star that has been a mechanism of excitement for this film beyond the likes of Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes, and Harrison Ford. Female MMA champion Ronda Rousey has been added to the cast, making the inevitable cross from athlete to movie star. Obviously this isn’t the first time an athlete has been in a movie, let alone a female athlete, let alone an MMA star. Randy Couture has been part of the franchise since the first installment. Gina Carano was another popular female MMA star who made the transition.
My trepidation for this movie comes from an undeniable annoyance of Rousey’s overexposure. Since her explosive debut in the UFC, it has been all Ronda, all the time.
There’s no denying she is the most talented female in the bantamweight division of the UFC, and arguably one of the greatest female fighters on the planet right now. She’s mowed her way through her competition (if you can even call any of them legitimate competition) without even breaking a sweat. She coached a season of the Ultimate Fighter, and aside from “Expendables 3,” is also filming several other movies.
But seeing her attitude on her season of The Ultimate Fighter made my attitude about her change. She paved the way for women in the UFC, without a doubt; yet couldn’t let go of a grudge with her opposing coach (who I’m not a huge fan of either, anyway). The drama and the unnecessary bitchiness turned her from a demigod into someone who absolutely made me cringe.
This, however, is just one UFC fangirl’s opinion. There are plenty of people that loved her more for her coaching stint, and, most recently, her 16 second knockout in her latest title defense.
Despite my opinion about her attitude, Ronda is a complete and utter badass, so it’s not surprising she’s in an action flick. I’m even the slightest bit begrudgingly curious to see her acting performance. Heck, it was great to see GSP pop up in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier;” his acting may not have been the best but he sure was an athletic spectacle.
If the past is any prediction of how the future will play out, I’m sure that “Expendables 3” will be just as thrilling, explosive, and down-right hilarious as the other two movies.
