‘Bullet To The Head’ International Trailer Shows Violence, Campy One-Liners, And Shirtless Stallone [Video]

Sylvester Stallone is really pushing his credibility as an action star these days. Despite being nearly 70, Sly has starred in handful of big budget action vehicles ranging from gritty to slightly tongue-in-cheek, and the aging star shows no signs of slowing down. The international trailer for his upcoming Bullet to the Head continues Stallone’s late-career trend, with plenty of over-the-top action, campy one-liners, and several shirtless scenes.

Bullet to the Head, based upon Alexis Nolent’s French graphic novel Du Plomb Dans La Tete, sees Stallone playing a New Orleans hitman who forges an unlikely partnership with a New York City detective in an investigation aimed at exposing the mob and rescuing Sly’s daughter from a vicious rival played by Jason Momoa.

The film is directed by Walter Hill of The Warriors and 48 Hrs. fame and was written by Alessandro Camon of The Messenger. Co-starring in the film are Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jon Seda and Holt McCallany. Release by studio Warner Bros was originally intended for 2012, but the date has since been pushed back to February 1st, 2013.

We’ve been of the opinion that Stallone is doing right by his career by opting for action roles that are slightly tongue-in-cheek and nostalgically recall the 80s action movie renaissance. Though critics haven’t always been taken with his comeback efforts, Sly has proven that he is still a bankable film star with these hyper-violent and campy film projects. Still, Ethan Anderton of FirstShowing says of Bullet to the Head that “the film felt like a parody, but not in the way that The Expendables franchise delivers over-the-top action with cheesy jokes,” continuing, “I feel like this is going to be another disappointment for the actor as he continues to try and land a breakthrough role for the next phase of his career.”

Indeed, the concept of a hitman and a police officer teaming up to deliver an uncommon brand of justice seems like an interesting and original spin, but the international trailer for Bullet to the Head makes it look like Sung Kang’s New York detective serves as a throwaway plot device and occasional comic relief that painfully recalls Rush Hour and other “buddy cop” failures. It would have been interesting to see the film’s concept adapted as a straight action-drama with two equally-yoked actors sharing the heavy lifting.

But here’s the international trailer for Bullet to the Head. Judge for yourself!