Here's the deal, I'm a girl. In many ways you could say I'm quite a 'girlie' girl: I go a little
light-headed over a gorgeous pair of shoes and my make-up collection
could supply a professional make-up artist for a good year. But you could also say this girl is a bit of a feminist - not the 'bras are a tool of
repression' type, but very much of the opinion that anything a man can
do and all that. Yet when a friend of mine tweeted me a link to a story relating to the rumoured 'female Expandables' followed by the has tag: #GirlPower I didn't feel the intended warm, fuzzy feeling of female solidarity. That proud moment of, 'yes! Finally the girls will be showing they can do exactly what those big, overly muscly men can' just wasn't there. In fact I think it's a down right stupid idea, which frankly is about as far from 'girl power' than you can get.
Let me put this into context; I'd previously been trying to explain to my friend how awesome the Expendables movies are. Yes, that's right, I like them, judge me if you will, I get that plot-wise they are pretty non-sensical and the stars involved aren't exactly acting heavy-weights, but some films are meant to be fun, and that is what they are - at least for me - pure, unadulterated fun. So she had innocently thought that an all-female version would be right up my street... erm, not quite.
So what's the problem? Well first of all an all female Expendables movie would totally miss the point of what makes the male version work: the cast. The whole draw of The Expendables is the chance to see all your favourite action stars all in one place, the trailers themselves joke about this in the almost endless stream of star names that are flashed up on the screen. Whats more, for the most part these aren't just recent stars who've had maybe one hit, or starred in one action franchise, these are guys that made films that span back thirty-plus years. Stallone, Willis, Schwarzenegger, Van Damme and Lungdren, these are all names that will have defined any action fans childhoods. And with two films down there are still a plethora of names that are being thrown around as a dream cast list for a third instalment.
This is the main hook of the franchise: nostalgia. Not only that, but all the little in-jokes that go along with a multitude of action stars' back catalogues spanning the last three decades, as well as the occasional dig at the stars themselves. How could this work with an all female cast? Discounting the fact that the number of female actresses who could be considered 'action stars' is relatively low, they are also not well established enough. This is not to say that I don't think that women can, and have, kicked some major ass on film in the last few years, but none of them have established themselves as stand alone action stars in quite the same way as their male counterparts. And the barrier to this? Simple, time. In twenty years, when more women are at the forefront of the action genre, yes, maybe a female Expendables movie would make sense.
Built into this is also the opportunity to see all those old stars returning to the place we know them best. Again, we're back to nostalgia. Many action fans have surely had the conversation about the yearning for another good Arnie/Van Damme/Stallone etc. movie, but when was the last time you wondered when the next Gina Carano (the first 'star' to sign onto the new film) movie would be out? That's not to say she won't establish herself as a star worthy of this recognition in time, but at this point, with only one starring film role under her belt how can she be considered one of the cornerstones of a female Expendables movie franchise?
Perhaps, though, the area of most concern where a film such as this is involved has to be the motives behind it. Yes, on the surface it's a cash-in on the Expendables franchise, but who genuinely believes that this film will see its female stars on the same level as their male counterparts? Who will the audience for this film be? I doubt it will be aimed at women, so this leaves the male action fan base, which, cynical as it may be, only leads me to one conclusion: how do you cash in on an already successful formula? Add a line-up of sexy women in tight clothing. Because, lets face it, does anyone see a version of this film where the women aren't either scantily clad, or in tight, bondage style attire masquerading as utility wear? This won't be an exercise in female empowerment but a two-hour excuse for male titillation.
Anyone who truly thinks a female Expendables will be a showcase for a group of women ass-kicking in the same league as men is truly deluding themselves. Girl power this won't be. Another exploitation of the female form dressed up as female empowerment; more than likely.
