The Expendables 4 ★★

DICTIONARY definition of cash grab: ‘An activity engaged in with the intention of making money quickly’…otherwise known as The Expendables 4.

The action franchise started in 2014 produced two half-decent movies before quickly running out of steam.

The latest instalment is just a repetition of the third one with the sole addition of a twist that Stevie Wonder could see coming.

Some of the action sequences are fine – I hadn’t seen a motorcycle chase on the deck of a container ship before – but the script is one lazy effort.

Old stagers Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren show up for their pay cheques while newbies “50 Cent” Jackson and Megan Fox make an effort, Tony Jaa and Iko Uwais have their physical talents wasted with too many close-up fight scenes and Andy García is just plain terrible.

The intent of the film’s backers was undoubtedly to make money quickly but, based on its initial poor showing, they may have to wait a while.