Review of Never Back Down (2008) by Chads. — 18 Mar 2008
Sport or misdemeanor? Athlete or thug? "Never Back Down" doesn't try to boost the sport of mixed-martial arts, which makes "Never Back Down" somewhat watchable, without ever being particularly good.
If you're old school(here's the test: Do you know what OMD stands for?), you'll wonder why nobody calls the cops. Had "Never Back Down" wanted to legitimize the sport, Jake(Sean Faris) and Ryan(Cam Gigandet) would square off in an official tournament.
The sport maintains its outsider status, but it does so in the unlikeliest of venues; a high school, which makes "Never Back Down" look like "Fight Club 90210". It's the strangest sight to see all these well-groomed boys and girls cheering on two preppie gladiators in a knock-down-drag-'em-out fight.
Amber(Baja Miller) is a freak; all the girls are, in this "Karate Kid(The)" update. They want to see blood. They don't look shy away from pain and suffering like girls used to, say, in 1984, the year of "sweep the leg".
I'm pretty sure Ali(Elizabeth Shue) flinched each time Daniel(Ralph Macchio) got hit.
This review of Never Back Down (2008) was written by Chads. on 18 Mar 2008.
Never Back Down has generally received mixed reviews.
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