Sure, Cena’s muscly, fit and quite a likable presence on screen
– still think ‘The Rock’ might have a little more charisma – but his
debut vehicle, a sort-of diet-Commando
(the one where Schwarzenegger had to blow up the guys who kidnapped his
daughter), does little to induce that he’s got a long feature film
career ahead of him.
Granted, the faults of the film may lie on
its dreadful script. Written by Michell Gallagher and Alan McElroy
(yep, it took two writers!) It’s essentially a stale one-note offering
about a former Marine (Cena) whose girlfriend is kidnapped at a petrol
station by on-the-run mobsters (Robert Patrick leading the charge). The
Marine then tracks the bad guys into the jungle, ultimately cornering
them at an old shack. And that’s about it.
With smart-ass one
liners, the inability to decide whether it’s supposed to playing it
serious or playing it for laughs, and some of the most wooden dialogue
to ever grace an action movie (and that includes some of
Schwarzenegger’s early efforts), it really is, pretty woeful.
The
Australian backdrop looks nice on film, but not for a second can you
pretend its somewhere in North Carolina. It looks too much like the
back roads leading up to Warner Bros Movie World or the strip outside
Jupiter’s Casino in Surfers. This isn’t America. (If the dodgy American
accents of some of Australia’s most recognizable actors doesn’t tip you
off).
Something I did enjoy about the movie though is the
direction (John Bonito has a big future ahead of him) but more so, the
cinematography. It’s beautiful. The close-ups, the zooms…. Some of the
wide-angle shots…they look amazing. In a better movie, the
cinematographer’s work wouldn’t go unnoticed. Yet here, it will. Like
the film itself. EXTRASNot even worth the effort! Conclusion:
Movie 40% Extras: N/A 
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