| |
Locations/Showings
Featuring Mainstream &
Art House Choices
Forum
Scary Movie 3 was neither scary nor a movie. Discuss this & more. Reviews
Glorifications & Executions of the latest Movies, DVDs, and television shows.
Flashback Flicks
Krull and other "Lost" Classics get their day in the sun.
Crapmasterpieces
So darn crappy they're hilariously brilliant.
TV Highlights
Boob Tube Playtime!
Calendar
A movie/tv related calendar. Covers openings, DVD release dates, conventions etc. |
|
|
|
The Rock Rings up Rundown
The Rundown is just another action movie, but against all odds, a pro-wrestler saves it.
Starring: The Rock, Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson, Christopher Walken, Ewen Bremner
Director: Peter Berg
Reviewed by Kevin Cunningham
 The Pitch: An organized crime 'Retrivial Expert' named Beck (The Rock) is sent to the Brazilian jungle to find his son, who is himself being hunted by the local town boss because he knows where a priceless artifact is hidden. Mindless action and hilarity ensues. IN OTHER WORDS: Indiana Jones meets every buddies-on-the-run flick, with monkeys.
There are just some things in pop culture that have one of those stigmas on them. You know the kind: it doesn't matter what they do, the public perception is that they're going to stink. Britney Spears (or any other blonde teenager in music, male or female). Carrot Top (or any other white stand up comedian with an afro; see Pauly Shore). Former Vice Presidents. Well, one of those things is Pro Wrestling, and anyone involved in it.
It's time to at least change that last perception. A wrestler with talent has been found.
Dwayne Johnson, otherwise known as The Rock, has something that almost all former wrestlers that have attempted film has lacked, and that is true charisma. When he's onscreen, he brings a certain type of energy that many other people have tried to capture and failed. He's quick with his witty remarks, and is believable enough in doing action sequences. He even has charm. Thank god, too, for this film's sake.
The Rundown is by all other aspects a very average comedic action film. It has a comedian taking a stab at action (American Pie's Seann William Scott), it has a much-recognized actor doing a part below his level as the villain (Christopher Walken), and it has the good looking girl (Rosario Dawson). It has several big action sequences (including a classic one involving Ernie Reyes, Jr.) held together by a loose plot that requires little thought. It even has the big name cameo, with The Governor showing up in this film (and looking very small next to The Rock)
Luckily, it misses one cliché (there's no romance, not even a token one), and it adds one extra thing that works: Monkeys. Monkeys, as a rule, are a good thing, except when directed by Tim Burton. Don't ask me why those two don't mix, they really should, but they just don't.
It also survives what could have potentially been a fatal title. Before it was entitled The Rundown, this film had the incredibly corny working title of Hell Dorado. Thank god someone came to their senses.
The film coasts by on the strength of the clichés and on the bewildered charm of the Rock, who goes alternately from a stoic confidence to a humorously bewildered at just what he's involved in. His character gets the usual tough-guy-with-a-soft-side treatment, being a mob repo man who wants to become a chef. That's where the Rock can surprise. He's got a soft side that still comes across as genuine, something that most big guys who get into action movies seem unable to genuinely have. It's what's kept guys like Mel Gibson and Bruce Willis around for so long, and might just keep The Rock around for a while, too.
And, for some reason, that's a good thing.
The DVD packs in a number of extras, but nothing too special. At some point, all the short 'documentaries' about the making of the film seem all the same. There are two commentaries, and the one with The Rock and director David Berg is mildly amusing, with the two joking around, but it lacks the trademark charisma The Rock has in his usual performances. But all of it is pretty passable.
Want to discuss this, and other topics, with fellow fans?
Post your thoughts in the SJ Fanboy Forum now!
|
|
|
|
|
(2 out of 4 stars)
