Walking Tall

Review by Clint Morris

"I don't know if you noticed, but this ain't exactly home anymore."

Inspired by the original film of the same name, but much closer in tone to the original First Blood, where a former soldier (Stallone) had to take on a town of corrupt cops, Walking Tall centres on an ex-special forces vet (The Rock) who returns home to discover his small rural Washington town has been overrun by crooked cops and a shady businessman running a new casino in town.

When Chris Vaughn notices a craps dealer is cheating his friend, he gets into a brawl, which escalates into a film-spanning battle between the thugs and the ex-solider.

With each film he does, Wrestler-cum-actor The Rock - or Dwayne Johnson as his parents named him - seems to be getting closer and closer to making the perfect action film.

The Scorpion King was a surprisingly effective combination of bash and brute, and Welcome to the Jungle, though a pretty substandard film, showcased the charismatic Schwarzenegger proxy's talent as both an action star and comedian.

With only three major films under his belt, The Rock is already on his way to becoming this era's definitive sovereign of action cinema.

What Walking Tall does for The Rock is prove that he's more than just smash and bang. Seems he's determined to show his range and, predominately, the cynics that he can act. And he's found the perfect vehicle to do that.

Big, bad, likeable, charming and even amusing, The Rock was tailor-made to play the part of Vaughn, a guiltless dupe who gets himself elected Sheriff so he can Copland-like clean up his town.

Naturally, it's the action scenes that the big guy excels in, but he's no slouch when it comes to the more dramatic moments - i.e. when he's without a huge plank of wood to swing at his opponent, or the romantic subplot.

As Vaughn's friend and sidekick, Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame is equally inspired casting. He's obviously having a great time and proves he's just as amusing as he is quite a good actor.

Still, Walking Tall has its problems. The character of Chris Vaughn is more reminiscent of a superhero that doesn't give a damn about repercussions for his actions, when we should be watching a 'normal joe' simply sticking up for what's right.

And as for the script, it seems to be missing a third act - something to let us get to know Vaughn's family, friends and love interest a bit more - causing the film to finish at a rather abrupt and premature 75 minute mark.

But if Walking Tall were a Schwarzenegger vehicle it would no doubt be considered one of the Austrian Oak's better movies, so The Rock's obviously doing something right.

3.5 out of 5

Walking Tall
Australian release: Thursday August 12th
Cast: The Rock, Johnny Knoxville, Neal McDonough, John Beasley, Kristen Wilson, Ashley Scott, Michael Bowen.
Director: Kevin Bray.
Website: Click here.

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