Wrestler turned actor John Cena doesn’t have to live up to the likes of Olivier, De Niro or even McConaughey, for that matter.
All he has to do is prove Dwayne Johnson’s ascent from the wrestling ring to the big screen wasn’t an aberration.
Cena can’t manage that modest feat in “12 Rounds” (out June 3o on DVD), his second stab at action hero stardom.
The burly actor gets pinned every time he’s asked to convey an emotion other than anger or frustration.
Cena plays Danny, a New Orleans cop whose heroics send an Irish terrorist (Aiden Gillen) to jail. In the process the terrorist’s moll gets crushed by an oncoming car, and he blames Danny for her death.
Fast forward one year, and the terrorist has wriggled out of jail and is hell bent on revenge. He dials up Danny and puts him through 12 rounds of life or death puzzles, most of which involve Danny’s cop partner (Brian White) and longtime squeeze (Ashley Scott).
Needless to say each round delivers smashing cars, explosions and a near total detachment from reality. But “12 Rounds” packs two treats above and beyond its stoic star.
Finnish director Renny Harlin, who once delivered blockbusters like “Die Hard 2″ and “Cliffhanger,” is calling the shots. The result? “12 Rounds” offers more solid thrills than most B-level actioners.
And setting the story in New Orleans delivers a much needed jolt. Cena might not be up for the task of carrying a film, but audiences learn about his character simply by absorbing the colorful backdrops.
The erstwhile Rock rode a cocked eyebrow and mountain physique to box office acclaim. Cena still needs a gimmick to call his own before he’s able to join his fellow WWE alum as a box office attraction.
(Photo: WWE’s John Cena hangs on for dear life playing a cop being stalked by a terrorist in “12 Rounds.”)
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And of course, the filmmakers have to cave in to Hollywood’s PC sensibilities by making the terrorist Irish instead of, you know, that other ethnic group that we don’t talk about.
I was watching “The Marine” on cable while exercising the other day, and it occurred to me that I had seen worse big screen actors than Cena. Such as Matt Damon.
Ouch. They do share more than a passing resemblance.