Last summer, Hollywood brought out its big guns for The Expendables, a hedonistic bullet-fest that claimed to be nothing but that. But the movie did have one sizable surprise: its cast of aged veterans— Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and Willis—felt oddly refreshing. The disheartening truth is that the classic action movie, with its dual-wielding protagonists, blond Russian enemies, and unforgiving muscles, is at a low point in its existence. Recently, studios have managed to churn out some movies in this dwindling genre, but superhero and comic book films have gotten a stranglehold on the good ol’-fashioned blockbusters in which the aforementioned California Governor thrived.
But as tragic as this phenomenon is, the few but tireless propagators of guilty-pleasure action flicks deserve a little credit. Liam Neeson, old man that he is, has become the new face of badassery. His sober résumé has not hindered a recent stint in action movies that includes the delectably classic, revenge-driven Taken, and Unknown, his most recent thriller and an obvious byproduct of the former’s success. In fact, fans loved Neeson’s CIA agent/angry father act in Taken so much that it spawned a likely uninspired—yet very welcomed—sequel. Let’s hope studios recognize Neeson’s abundant box office rewards as the American audience’s plea for more nonsensical bloodbaths.
If these action movies can still be big moneymakers, there must be some other reason for the genre’s demise. Look no further than the superhero genre. Sure, The Dark Knight, which combined popcorn action with superb acting, was an acceptable replacement for the kind of mindless violence we saw in Commando. But this was the exception in an ocean of cookie-cutter films scraping the bottom of the barrel for lesser-known comic book heroes. (Or, even worse, they’re going back to the top, rebooting the Spiderman franchise just like Edward Norton reincarnated the Hulk in 2008.) Unfortuantely, it’s come to look like landing a superhero gig is the new hallmark for success.
So what makes a Stallone movie, with few redeeming qualities and utterly laughable performances, superior to these comic book films? Like many genres, superhero films have outlived their appropriate lifespan. While the Batman franchise, like the James Bond series, has earned the right to live on, Captain America and other less popular superheroes look like desperate attempts to profit from a genre that is on its way out. Gun-toting action stars can always adapt to current affairs—think North Korean despots as the new Russian villains—and take pride in their reprehensible behavior, rather than feel shame for it. These films are not artwork, but the one-liners and predictable endings are like cinematic comfort food—pure, enjoyable entertainment.
As the well of superhero films runs dry, we can only hope that a resurgence of action-packed movies with bulletproof protagonists will follow. Jason Statham, whom The Expendables featured right alongside the action heavyweights, has proven his abilities in the Transporter series, and his soft-spoken yet biting language makes him a plausible successor to Bruce Willis. With actors like Statham and Neeson leading the charge, it’s high time for the new spew of action movies to wash out the Green Lanterns and Hulks. After all, the Governator promised, “I’ll be back.”
Invite John to your next hedonistic bullet-fest at jsapunor@georgetownvoice.com
