Sylvester Stallone stars in "The Expendables."

More than a few movie pundits, myself included, have questioned the value of movie stars in modern Hollywood.

Nowadays, it seems to be the franchise and subject matter that matter a whole lot more than the movie star attached.

But three 2010 summer blockbusters have put forth a strong argument to the contrary. The first was "Knight & Day," the Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz action-adventure film that did better at the box office than initially expected. The second was "Salt," the Angelina Jolie secret agent thriller which received exceptional reviews.

The third and the best of the year's breed might just be "The Expendables," the explosion of macho that stars nearly a dozen of the most familiar male action heroes from the last quarter-century. It's not just that they made a movie like this that is noteworthy; it's how good this trashy little diversion ultimately turns out to be.

This is a fun, fearless, ferocious escape and one that proves that when scripts give their stars a chance to shine, and the movie stars step up to the plate swinging, the result can be an infectious home run.

A group of freelance warriors who have lost their connection to righteous causes in favor of almighty cash, the Expendables may be hardened, but they're not yet inhuman.

Leader Barney (Sylvester Stallone) regards friends and enemies alike with a sad gaze (beneath strangely distracting eyebrows). Knife whiz Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) is man enough not to hide his hurt over a busted relationship, while combat expert Ying Yang (Jet Li) is angling for a raise.

In smaller roles, Terry Crews and his biceps handle the operation's biggest weapons, and mixed martial arts star Randy Couture explains things like his curious little cauliflower ear in fine scientific detail.

After the high-body-count rescue that opens the film, Barney chooses to cut loose sniper Gunner (Dolph Lundgren), believing that possible drug use and hot temper make him untrustworthy.

The mission that wakens Barney's dormant compassion involves the fictional South American island country of Vilena, where a former CIA operative, Monroe, pulls the puppet strings of dictator Gen. Garza (David Zayas, of the TV show "Dexter"). Determining that if they take out the general they'd be sacrificing themselves to save the CIA embarrassing headlines, Barney and his boys turn down the assignment. But then he meets the general's beautiful rebel daughter, Sandra (newcomer Giselle Itie, suitably fiery), and for the first time in years, money isn't everything.

The plot, though, really isn't the thing. What matters here is the camaraderie and the action sequences that allow each and every movie star his moment of greatness. The winking boys-will-be-boys quality is at its most blatant in a scene containing uncredited cameos by Bruce Willis and the moonlighting Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger himself.

It's moments like this where my glee flowed unabated, and I basked in the pure joy of seeing so many of our favorite big-screen personalities tossed back together - in a show that wasn't just about campy cameos but about hardcore action in exotic locales.

Will "The Expendables" win any awards? There's not a chance. But here's an energized, light-hearted diversion that I have a feeling will be making the manliest viewers chuckle for years to come via late-night cable reruns and bachelor parties galore.