Much of the dialogue is incomprehensible, the young blood is bland (though ninety seconds of screentime apiece doesn’t help), and the acting comes down to a game of smirk or grimace – but The Expendables 3 is a series high-point.

Interpret as you will.

Newbie-oldies Gibson, Ford, Snipes and Puss in Boots are a breath of medically-administered fresh oxygen, and worries that the family-friendly rating would mean less killin’, more talkin’ – ever-present in 1 and 2 – are quickly quashed.

Obviously when you rent a dozen tanks and a Harrison Ford, money for squibs is just plain hard to find.

Wrinkly Expendables to the wall.

RATING: 3/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, Jason Statham

DIRECTOR: Patrick Hughes

WRITERS: Sylvester Stallone, Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt

SYNOPSIS: Mercenary leader Barney Ross recruits a new band of killers to go after arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks and bring him to justice.