Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that The Expendables will definitely appeal to teens (and, frankly, boys of all ages) thanks to a cast filled with living action legends like Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis. But since it's filled with over-the-top action violence -- including shootings, stabbings, severed limbs, spurting blood, explosions, and burning bodies -- it's not age-appropriate for younger viewers. There's also some violence against women, and language is strong (including both "f--k" and "s--t"), though not constant. Drugs are a key part of a subplot, and one character has a drug problem, even though viewers never see any drugs consumed. Other characters smoke cigars, pipes, and cigarettes. It has perhaps the most impressive action cast ever assembled for a movie, including some living legends, and so it will be irresistible to boys of all ages.
Sexual
Content
No kissing or sex, but one character sulks over finding another man in his girlfriend's house. Tool brings home an attractive woman and pats her on the bottom. Some brief talk about sex and relationships. Barney becomes obsessed with a girl nearly four decades younger than he is, but the movie doesn't necessarily define this as a romantic obsession (it could be something like mutual respect).
Violence
The characters shoot, stab, impale, pummel, pound, and blow up just about everything and everyone in sight. Some of them prefer guns -- including some of the biggest, loudest weapons you've ever seen -- while others are knife experts. Many minor characters die without much consequence. Viewers see blood spurts, explosions, car chases, and burning bodies. There are severed limbs and heads and exploding torsos. A woman has bruises on her face from an abusive boyfriend, and another woman is kidnapped and tortured (with water).
Language
A few uses of "f--k" and several of "s--t." Other words include "suck d--ks," "ass," "goddamn," "balls," "hell," "a--hole," and "damn."
Social
Behavior
One of the movie's major recurring themes is that these "heroes" are mercenaries; they work for money rather than for any personal beliefs. Some do express regrets for actions not taken in their pasts.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
The main villain is essentially a drug dealer; he controls the cocaine industry on a small island, and there are stacks of cocaine bags in one scene. One of the good guys is said to have a drug problem, though viewers never see him actually taking drugs. Two characters smoke cigars, and one character smokes a fancy pipe. Some of the villains smoke cigarettes. The main characters are seen clinking beers while flying a plane. A character brings champagne to a girl's house, but it's never opened. Another character orders a martini with olives that viewers never see.
