THE EXPENDABLES (15).

Action. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Giselle Itie. Director: Sylvester Stallone.

Brawn triumphs over brains in Sylvester Stallone’s explosive adventure that shoe-horns some of the biggest names of the movie action genre into one preposterous, all-guns-blazing film.

There is so much gym-honed, rippling muscle on display here, you can barely see the background or supporting cast in some shots.

Barney Ross (Stallone) is the leader of a band of mercenaries known as The Expendables, who are hired to overthrow General Gaza (Zayas), who rules the small island of Vilena with an iron fist.

The team infiltrates the island but soon discover that Gaza isn’t the only enemy on Vilena: rogue CIA agent James Monroe (Roberts) and his hulking bodyguard Paine (Austin) are pulling the strings.

The highlight is a scene in a church in which Stallone’s hero and his rival Trencher (Arnold Schwarzenegger) meet in a church to compete for a contract from the mysterious Mr Church (Bruce Willis).

“Give the job to my friend here. He loves playing in the jungle,” deadpans Arnie, referring to Stallone’s exploits as Rambo.

“What’s his problem?” asks Church. “He wants to be President,” quips Stallone.

The Expendables does everything you expect as loudly and brashly as possible, like razing almost the entire nation in the name of liberty.

The script, co-written with Dave Callaham, gives a cursory nod to characterisation but really it’s all about the big bangs and outrageous destruction.