[thumb:21:l]I wanted to see this movie in the theaters, unlike many, but unfortunately didn’t get to. So now that it’s out on DVD I’ve picked it up and had a chance to watch it.

For one, Cena actually seems a lot more convincing as an action hero than as a wrestler most times in the ring. He plays the plucky, nice guy hero, who when called forth to be the mean unstoppable SOB of the film, pulls it off well. He’s got the clean-cut look, a beautiful wife played by Kelly Carlson, a mastermind bad guy in Robert Patrick and the need for action in his now hum drum dull life.

We start the movie in Iraq, with John Triton sneaking up on a terrorist outpost to save three Marine POW’s. He charges in to attack by himself as the POW’s are about to get their heads cut off and shot. He takes all the terrorists down in a flurry of bullets, spin kicks, broken bones and explosions, which in the end sees our hero John Triton victorious, saving his comrades and getting out safe. Unfortunately, for disobeying orders, he eventually finds himself discharged.[thumb:24:r]

Forced to go home, he meets up with his lovely wife, and soon finds work as a security guard in a swanky office building. That lasts about a day as he ends up throwing an irate ex boyfriend and his cronies through the front window of a building. Forced to deal with the fact that he once more has no job and no purpose, his wife suggests taking a break and they leave for vacation.

[thumb:23:l]They leave, stopping at a gas station where a bunch of gas robbers end up taking his car with his wife in it for a get-away vehicle. From there it’s just a mad dash through swamps, with betrayals, killings, and tons of explosions that make this a worthy action flick. It’s got a few cheesy, “huh?” moments where they’re obviously trying to be funny and use a character or two as comic relief. Some of these work and are amusing and some of these are just pointless and unneeded.

Whereas The Rock had a big budget fantasy type of action movie debut where he was the ancient warrior waging war against countless odds, Cena’s movie is more reminiscent of the earlier Schwarzenegger movie Commando, in which a war vet was fighting a battle to save his wife from the vile and sadistic jewel thieves.

When I watched this, I didn’t expect anything deep, I didn’t expect an Oscar performance: I expected an action movie where people got shot, people got blown up and people died. I got all that. It would have been worth the ticket price and it’s a fun DVD. The extras have a “making of” featurette that lets you see what went into the movie, a behind-the-scenes delving into the wrestling champ’s life in the ring as well as things like visits to Iraq and Afghanistan and Cena’s thoughts on real life marines.

Like good action movies that you can eat popcorn to, see explosions, and even get a chuckle or two? Pick up The Marine or rent it from your neighborhood Blockbuster. You won’t regret it.[thumb:22:r]

Posted in Action, DVD, Movies |