The Rundown

release year: 2003
genre: action/comedy
viewing setting: cruise ship PPV, 3/11/04

synopsis: A tough collections guy goes to South America to bring back his boss' son, and gets more action than he bargained for.

impressions: Good action, good lines, good plot, bad direction. Specifically I mean the hyperactive switching between shots during some of the action scenes. I hate this. Other than that, I found the comedy-relief character annoying and only somewhat funny.

things to watch for: When the Rock walks into the bar at the beginning - a surprise cameo awaits him!

something this movie has that no other movie has: Killer monkeys that never actually attack anyone.

acting: No doubt about it, the Rock has the screen presence to be the next big action star. Seann William Scott was okay, but not great, as a semi-serious, semi-comedic fellow. Ernie Reyes Jr. was good as the high-kicking bandit leader. Rosario Dawson made a tough bartender-ess with a secret. Christopher Walken was good as the scenery-chewing head bad guy.

final word: A mixed batch of fun and stupidity.

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