Back in the late 60's to the early 70's the cinema was hit with a tidal wave of daring and violent movies. Heading this were classics such as The Exorcist , The Texas Chainsaw Massacre , Bonnie & Clyde and Dillinger to name but a few and in 1973 came a movie that was inspired by a real life legend and made a star of it's main man. That movie was 'Walking Tall' with Joe Don Baker playing Sheriff Buford Hayse Pusser.
Here was a film that showed the maverick cop returning back home after his time in the army and as a wrestler and taking on the corrupt crime syndicates destroying his neighbourhood. Baker had a hit on his hands with his best ever role and Pusser himself acted as a techinical adviser to the movie (his father acted as adviser for the two sequels after Pusser's death in 1974).
Now in 2004 'The Rock' plays Chris Vaughn, based on or as the movie suggests, inspired by Pusser's character right down to the 2 by 4 that he used as an equaliser. It's now time for some down and dirty fighting and it's short running time working in it's favour as it does not give you time to dwell on some cringeworthy dialogue. The movie is enjoyable on the most part, the main problem is it's mid section with a courtroom scene that will have you ready with your remote and almost hitting the off button. But stay ! There is some fun at hand.
'The Rock' returns home after being discharged from the Army only to find vice, drugs and prostitution on his door step. His family and the town's folk are upset by this but the local bad guy has the cops in his pocket. So sets the scene and 'The Rock' steps in to set all wrongs to right. After a few punch ups he goes for election as sherrif and then it's down to clearing out the town to a final manly one on one showdown.The action scenes are pretty good and are kept to an almost realistic feel which is unusual for this type of thing. With Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers , Minority Report , Ravenous ) nice and slimy as ex-high school pal turned bad guy complimented by Johnny Knoxville's (Jackass and the up-and-coming The Dukes of Hazzard ) dope dealer come clean deputy and 'The Rock's' right hand man. Completing the principles is Ashley Scott (Dark Angel , S.W.A.T .) playing the unnecessary token love interest.
The DVD looks packed to it's actioned brim but looks can be deceiving. There are three deleted scenes of which two are basically padding, the outtakes are around forty seconds and the stunt featurette around the five minute mark. The alternative ending is not so alternative but rather a slight continuation to where the theatrical version finished and the photo gallery is mainly 'The Rock' looking butch with his lump of wood in his hand. A trailer and two audio commentaries fill this lightweight feature section.Taking this on it's own merits and ignoring the strong original this is not a bad film, but it's not a great one either and the makers have no pretension that it is. The cast do give there all and seem to have fun in doing so. There is also a glimpse perhaps that if 'The Rock' had the right material he could be an action man of our times but for now, grab a six pack, sit down, switch off and enjoy.
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