The other new wide entry in this week’s dismal end of first quarter lineup is PAIN & GAIN, and it’s a stretch…
P & G is a comedic, action crime thriller about the personal trainers and body builders who in 1990’s Miami hatched a plan to brutally kidnap a wealthy, cocky regular member of the gym and extort big money by means of torture.
All in pursuit of the American dream, which here goes terribly wrong.
And while the upbeat cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Ed Harris and Tony Shalhoub, you have to wonder what they were thinking when they signed up for this picture.
Big paycheck’s maybe?
Since the story’s based on real events, there’s been some very negative feedback from locals who don’t appreciate having this violent episode turned into a goofy comedic outing.
Director Michael Bay would probably be best off sticking to his formulaic tentpole productions—like the next TRANSFORMERS extravaganza which also stars Mark Wahlberg.
PAIN AND GAIN’s catch phrase is, “Their American Dream Is Bigger Than Yours.”
The same can’t be said for this movie which raises 2-1/2 out of 5 broken fingers.
And so the curtain comes down on a less than exciting first quarter at the movies. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Based on what I saw last week at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, the remainder of 2013 should end up being a vast cinematic improvement.
So what you mean is that this is now the 2nd best weightlifting movie of all time behind the awesome doc “Pumping Iron”?
Now THAT’S a stretch 🙂
And by “first quarter at the movies” you actually mean 4 months, or one-third of the year?
Jr. would be swinging from the rafters at this rookie mistake.
OK, you got me. Let’s just call it the ‘crappy period?’
Sounds like another Bay Crapsterpiece.