Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that The Expendables 2 has even more legendary action stars -- and is quite a bit better -- than The Expendables, so expect boys of all ages to be clamoring to see it. The violence is strong and constant but slightly less nasty than in the first film. Overall the feel is cartoonish, although the characters are motivated by revenge, and there's lots of killing (and fighting, spurting blood, and dead bodies) with no consequences. Language isn't nearly as strong as in the last movie (supposedly due to co-star Chuck Norris' objections) but does include about a half-dozen uses of "s--t." There's some love talk and flirting and a discussion of cheating, but most of the sexual content is mild. A character with a history of chemical dependence takes a drink from a flask from time to time but never appears drunk; some of the main characters smoke cigars. On the plus side, there's a strong female character this time around, in addition to many other improvements.

Sexual Content

One of the main characters frequently speaks flirtatiously to his girlfriend on the phone. Viewers see them together in one scene, in which they kiss briefly. There's some discussion about her "cheating." The main female character flirts slightly with the lead male character. Additional flirting and love talk.

Violence

The movie's violence is strong and graphic, but it's also cartoonish and without much weight or consequence. There's heavy shooting, spurting blood, and many dead bodies. There are also knives and stabbing, hitting with brass knuckles, and martial arts fighting. There's a helicopter crash and a very, very quick shot of a burning man. One major character dies. A character is beheaded by a whirling propeller, and a main character brings back a man's head in a bag. Kidnapping.

Language

Several uses of "s--t," plus "bastards," "damn," "hell," "ass," and "swear to God."

Social Behavior

The Expendables 2 is mostly based on/driven by revenge, which enables the band of heroes to kill any number of bad guys without feeling bad about it. At one point, they're asked to help rescue some captured civilians. They initially refuse -- a rescue would get in the way of their mission -- but they eventually do it.

Consumerism

A large, old-fashioned Pepsi-Cola sign is highly visible in a few shots.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Dolph Lundgren's character has a history of "chemical dependence." He's seen drinking from a flask on more than one occasion, but he never seems drunk and is more in control this time around. Characters occasionally drink beer in a bar or clink bottles while flying a plane. Some characters smoke cigars.