Out of the ring he's no knockout
Action Thriller
Saturday October 17 2009
Twelve Rounds? I was out for the count after the first one. If you want an all-action thriller, this might just make the cut. If you want a laugh at a preposterous movie, then this is the right choice for you.
Wrestler-turned-actor John Cena plays tough cop Danny Fisher, who during the chase of deadly international arms dealer Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen) inadvertently causes the death of the bad guy's beautiful girlfriend.
Fast forward a year later, and Miles is very peeved indeed. You see, he's so cunning he's escaped from prison and takes Fisher's girlfriend hostage. We know that Miles is bad, as we've already seen him bumping off his own accomplice in the opening scene.
He really should bump Fisher's girlfriend off too, and end our misery. But no, in best James Bond bad guy fashion, he gives Fisher the chance to save her -- if he plays this deadly (and deadly stupid) game of cat and mouse.
While Fisher goes on the trail of Molly (Ashley Scott), very bad things happen -- and in loud fashion.
In a Die Hard 3 rip-off, Fisher has to solve puzzles, answer phone calls around town and watch as various bits of public transport and buildings blow up.
Cena should have stuck to the ring and is a charisma-free zone, while Gillen is unintentionally hilarious as Jackson, with a sort of Dort accent meets a Nordie tongue. It's like watching Bruce Willis taking on Ross O'Carroll Kelly gone bad. Ashley Scott, meanwhile, just has to look good and be a little damsel in distress.
It's mindless, it's definitely B material, but it's worth a look -- and a laugh -- on the small screen.
DVD extras: Not bad -- commentary track with director Renny Harlin, commentary track with writer Daniel Kunka and John Cena, stunts, behind-the-scenes and gag reels featurettes, and two alternative endings.
- Mark Evans
