Review of The Rundown (2003) by Aaron N — 02 Sep 2009

Beck: I need you to make a choice for me.

Travis: What choice?

Beck: Option A or Option B. Option A: we walk out of here nice and easy, we go back to the airstrip, and then we begin our long journey back to Los Angeles. There'll be no bruises, no broken bones, and no problems.

Travis: What's in Los Angeles?

Beck: Your father.

Travis: What's Option B?

Beck: Pretty much the opposite of A. But I wouldn't recommend that one.

A quality action comedy, featuring the Rock, with charisma to spare, Seann William Scott being funny, Rosario Dawson being hot, and Christopher Walken being Walken.

The Rock stars as Beck, a bounty hunter looking to get out of the business and start his own restaurant, is given his chance, provided he can complete one last job. Beck must travel to a town in the Amazon to locate a mobster's son, Travis played by Scott. Travis is actually a treasure hunter, who may have found his payday, but now a few things stand in his way. The no nonsense logic from Beck, who is making Travis head back to the plane home, the local rebel leader, played by Dawson, who is leading the rebels against the oppressive mining town operator, played by Christopher Walken.

Hatcher: I feel like a little boy who's lost his first tooth, put it under his pillow, waiting for the tooth-fairy to come. Only two evil burglars have crept in my window, and snatched it, before she could get here... Wait a second, do you understand the CONCEPT of the tooth-fairy? Explain it to them... Wait. She takes the god damned thing, and gives you a quarter. They've got my tooth. I want it back.

The movie essentially becomes a buddy action comedy involving Beck and Travis' journey through the jungle, while being pursued by Walken and his men. As the two move through the jungle, they encounter some surprises along the way, but one thing is for sure, The Rock will always get his man.

This movie is just a lot of fun. Director Peter Berg keeps the film moving at an energetic pace, with some little stylistic flourishes throughout, including flashy camera moves and a lot of slo mo. The action is cool throughout, with the Rock certainly showing off his abilities. His stance against guns makes for some interesting fisticuffs as well.

Seann William Scott is quite good here as well, providing the laughs needed and showing obvious chemistry with the Rock. Of course Walken is on his game, providing a number of one liners, Walken style devliery of all his lines, and a sinister undercurrent that works for his villain character.

A fun film with plenty of good elements that make it enjoyable.

Hatcher: Don't rock the boat.