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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Walking Tall
By Craig Younkin Published April 2, 2004
US Release: April 2, 2004
Directed by: Kevin Bray
Starring: Dwayne Johnson , Neal McDonough , Johnny Knoxville , John Beasley
PG-13
Running Time: 85 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $45,977,000
Directed by: Kevin Bray
Starring: Dwayne Johnson , Neal McDonough , Johnny Knoxville , John Beasley
PG-13
Running Time: 85 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $45,977,000
B
This may be The Rock's most accomplished effort so far.
Chris Vaughn (The Rock) is a Special Forces hero returning to the home that he thought he once knew. Only the quiet, peaceful town that he once knew has been overrun with dirty video stores, strip clubs, and a corrupt casino that sells drugs to kids
Incidentally, the casino is being run by his old friend Jay (Neal McDonaugh), who owns the town, and the local sheriff is reluctant to do anything about it. So Chris decides to do something himself: he becomes sheriff after the new election, and along with his old buddy Ray (Johnny Knoxville), makes a vow to clean up the town of Jay's filth. But of course Jay is not willing to give up his empire without a fight.
The story is a fairly generic "one man standing up against the corrupt system" format, and the movie is surprisingly short at an hour and ten minutes, but director Kevin Bray knows how to film a "Rock movie.? The action scenes, mostly centering on wrestling style violence, take on a brutal life of their own. One great scene in particular has The Rock come into the casino with nothing but a piece of lumber as a weapon. These scenes work very well because by the time the first action scenes start, the story has been developed well enough where we really hate the villains and really love the hero.
We love the hero because he is played by the ever growing actor, The Rock; he has an incredible screen presence and continues to show range as not just an action hero, but an actor. The first three films (this, plus Scorpion King and The Rundown) have been pretty mediocre efforts, but the one bright spot in all of them is that he is one of the most charismatic actors in Hollywood today (he also has one hell of a build).
This may be his most accomplished effort to so far. He has a real knack for comedy and action, but here there is actually a dramatic side to him that comes out very well. He becomes this big ball of rage and frustration all wrapped up into an All-American Hero, and it becomes so much fun to watch. If he keeps this up, he can possibly be better than Schwarzenegger ever was.
McDonaugh also comes through very well as the lead bad guy and Knoxville is good in a comic relief role, the real highlight of this film is obvious. The Rock has already started cooking, and is ready to boil over ? all he needs is the right flick.
Incidentally, the casino is being run by his old friend Jay (Neal McDonaugh), who owns the town, and the local sheriff is reluctant to do anything about it. So Chris decides to do something himself: he becomes sheriff after the new election, and along with his old buddy Ray (Johnny Knoxville), makes a vow to clean up the town of Jay's filth. But of course Jay is not willing to give up his empire without a fight.
The story is a fairly generic "one man standing up against the corrupt system" format, and the movie is surprisingly short at an hour and ten minutes, but director Kevin Bray knows how to film a "Rock movie.? The action scenes, mostly centering on wrestling style violence, take on a brutal life of their own. One great scene in particular has The Rock come into the casino with nothing but a piece of lumber as a weapon. These scenes work very well because by the time the first action scenes start, the story has been developed well enough where we really hate the villains and really love the hero.
We love the hero because he is played by the ever growing actor, The Rock; he has an incredible screen presence and continues to show range as not just an action hero, but an actor. The first three films (this, plus Scorpion King and The Rundown) have been pretty mediocre efforts, but the one bright spot in all of them is that he is one of the most charismatic actors in Hollywood today (he also has one hell of a build).
This may be his most accomplished effort to so far. He has a real knack for comedy and action, but here there is actually a dramatic side to him that comes out very well. He becomes this big ball of rage and frustration all wrapped up into an All-American Hero, and it becomes so much fun to watch. If he keeps this up, he can possibly be better than Schwarzenegger ever was.
McDonaugh also comes through very well as the lead bad guy and Knoxville is good in a comic relief role, the real highlight of this film is obvious. The Rock has already started cooking, and is ready to boil over ? all he needs is the right flick.
Craig's Grade: B
Craig's Overall Grading: 340 graded movies
| A | 10.9% | |
| B | 41.8% | |
| C | 31.8% | |
| D | 15.3% | |
| F | 0.3% |
'Walking Tall' Articles
- Gareth's review B-
April 2, 2004 An entertaining film that works thanks in large part to the charisma of The Rock. -- Gareth Von Kallenbach
