While there are many potential pitfalls that could turn The Expendables 2 into a big mound of fail, I doubt many at all thought it might originate from the addition of Chuck Norris. The film is now declared to be shooting for a teen-friendly PG-13, and the popular action hero claims it is all his doing.
Norris told the Polish outlet Gazeta, "In Expendables 2, there was a lot of vulgar dialogue in the screenplay. For this reason, many young people wouldn't be able to watch this. But I don't play in movies like this. Due to that, I said I wouldn't be a part of that if the hardcore language is not erased. Producers accepted my conditions and the movie will be classified in the category of PG-13."
I can't imagine a more solid nail in the coffin of this sequel. The action and ensuing bloodshed of the first film was the only thing going for it. By kid-ifying the action, the film is reducing itself to forgettable tripe. Why would anyone want to see an Expendables film without any of the bloody action? For the 'acting'?
Sylvestor Stallone later added his own voice through AICN by saying, "The PG13 rumor is true - but before your readers pass judgement, trust me when I say this film is LARGE in every way and delivers on every level. This movie touches on many emotions which we want to share with the broadest audience possible, BUT, fear not, this Barbeque of Grand scale Ass Bashing will not leave anyone hungry."
'Emotions'? Like when Mickey Rourke's moon-face filled the entire screen in The Expendables, telling a weepy story for ten minutes with a bit of drool hanging from his lip? That sort of 'emotions'? I sat in the front row of a crowded theater, and Mickey Rourke's looming drooling face plastered across the screen at this odd angle was something close to terrifying. It's not the sort of theatrical experience I'd ever want to repeat.
You can keep your 'emotions'. Thanks Chuck!
Caught that online last night on Cinema Blend, though they left out Norris as the cause.
While I agree with the emotion comment (I really hated that scene, though I missed the drool), I doubt you have to worry much about Rourke's emoting. SPOILER ALERT--- his murder gets the group back in action.
To be honest, I didn't think the violence in the original was strong enough for an R-rating. When you compare it to Sly turning a bad guy into sticky red paste in the last Rambo, the violence in Expendables felt rather tame. Sure, we had a nasty throat slashing, but most everything else was rather tame.
That said, I still think A PG-13 rating is a big mistake. Sure, Norris maybe an Internet meme, but it doesn't mean tons of kids will flock to any film he's in. The first one did so well because it was promoted as an alternative to family fare and "chick flicks" (that's not my interpretation; just think back to the ad campaign launched as it face that Julia Roberts flick and yes, I forgot its name). Dropping the rating will alienate the original audience and it remains to be seen if a younger audience will flock to the theaters or wait and download it illegally.
Maybe they'll make another Chuck Norris meme about that.
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