Review of The Marine (2006) by Luke P — 31 May 2009
The first film to be produced by World Wrestling Entertainment, starring the Hulk Hogan of the present day in John Cena, but thankfully The Marine shows Cena may have a more successful movie career than The Hulkster ever did.
A big, silly action film of the highest order, The Marine sees Cena star as a discharged marine (hence the title) whose wife is kidnapped by a gang of diamond thieves (led by Robert Patrick) and so Cena must get her back in the only way he knows how; kicking ass.
There's plenty of big action scenes staged by debut director John Bonito; car chases, things explode, there's some alligators at one point, while the film never takes itself too seriously, with a streak of silly humour running throughout (particular kudos to Anthony Ray Parker's character's bizarre backstory involving rock candy and summer camp molestation!).
John Cena looks the part and convinces in the action scenes, even if he lacks the easy charisma of that other successful wrestling-to-movies export The Rock while Robert Patrick is always good as the psycho villain, and Kelly Carlson is hot enough as the wife that you actually would run through swamps killing people to get her back.
A good fun, overblown action film, great fun to watch. A guilty pleasure.
This review of The Marine (2006) was written by Luke P on 31 May 2009.
The Marine has generally received mixed reviews.
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