The No. 1 wrestling thespian, The Rock, returns to the big screen in an action comedy vehicle built just for him.??Like \The Scorpion King,"" ""The Rundown"" does not move The Rock too far away from his smackdown-laying ways, but it does more to show off his acting ability.
For a movie starring a wrestler, ""The Rundown"" places somewhere in between Hulk Hogan's ""Suburban Commando"" and Andre the Giant's classic, ""The Princess Bride."" Like Andre in ""The Princess Bride,"" The Rock is greatly helped by a solid supporting cast.??Seann William Scott (Stiffler of ""American Pie"" fame) and Christopher Walken both do well at playing themselves, and Rosario Dawson gives the movie a dash of femininity.
In ""The Rundown,"" Beck (The Rock) wants to open a restaurant, but his boss will not help him out until he does one last job for him.??The boss' son, Travis (Scott), is down in Brazil and Beck is ordered to bring him back. Travis is given two options, but he chooses hidden option ""C.""??Plenty of action and hilarity follow as the evil Hatcher (Walken) refuses to allow Beck to take Travis out of his village, and Travis will not let Beck get him to the airstrip without first finding the ""gato,"" an ancient artifact that will save the rebels led by Mariana (Dawson) and make Travis a pile of cash.
Do not worry, it is not as confusing as it sounds.??Besides, ""The Rundown"" was not meant to show off elaborate plot twists and Oscar-caliber acting-it exists for the single purpose of getting The Rock over (as they say in the wrestling business) with the movie-going public.??The film is successful in that respect.
The Rock kicks plenty of butt and delivers his share of funny lines, but, most importantly, he shows that he has screen presence. Even with Walken playing a parody of himself, he still holds a tight grip on the audience's attention. For The Rock to steal some of that attention for himself is a testament to what he is capable of in the film industry.
All four leads are a delight to watch, and they effectively save the movie from what it could have been.??""The Rundown"" is by no means good, but it is escapist fare at its finest, and viewers can see The Rock's emerging star power.??One more thing: Be on the lookout for a possible future California governor as the movie begins.
