Pain and Gain

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
 Pain and Gain
Released 4/26/13, now in theaters

Action director extraordinaire, Michael Bay, trades big explosions (sort of) for comedy in the action comedy, Pain and Gain.  This true life tale of Miami bodybuilders kidnapping a local businessman for monetary gain stars Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Ed Harris, Tony Shalhoub, Ken Jeong, Rebel Wilson, and Anthony Mackie. 

Daniel Lugo (Wahlberg) is passionate.  He's the senior trainer at Sun Gym in Miami, and he guarantees that all of his clients will get pumped when he's done with them.  He's also tired of living on a trainer's paltry salary and believes he's destined for something greater after attending a Johnny Wu (Jeong) self help seminar.  That something greater involves local businessman, Victor Kershaw (Shalhoub), who becomes one of Lugo's clients.  Kershaw makes the critical mistake of bragging about his riches at every opportunity.  In his mind, Lugo believes those should be his riches and decides to follow "the American Dream" by kidnapping Kershaw and forcing him to sign over his assets. 

But, Lugo needs partners for this type of undertaking.  He recruits fellow trainer and loyal follower, Adrian Doorbal (Mackie) into his scheme.  But the crew isn't complete until they meet Paul Doyle (Johnson) at the gym.  Doyle has recently relocated to Miami after a stint in Attica.  He's a recovering drug addict who found religion while in prison.  And while he is a gentle soul at heart, he soon finds himself in need of money and lodging when he has an altercation with the priest at the local church that is supplying him with employment and residence.

Thus, with Doyle on board, the Sun Gym Gang is complete.  While the trio does have some initial success, they soon find kidnapping and extortion isn't as easy as they believed it would be, and their scheme spirals out of control with both hilarious and horrifying results. 
First, let me say that I will always think of  Dwayne Johnson as "The Rock."  It was this persona he developed in the WWE that showed me he was a terrific actor.  Pain and Gain, for me, is his best acting job since he became a Hollywood star.  Paul Doyle is played as both a pathetic and comedic figure and Johnson sells both sides of the character, particularly the comedic element.  If you don't believe Johnson is a funny man, watch this movie and see if you feel the same way.  This is part of what's great about him. He looks the part of an action star, yet, he has tremendous comedic chops that will leave you in stitches.  He is the new Schwarzenegger, only, you know, actually funny. 

Aside from Johnson, all the actors turn in more than credible performances from Wahlberg's dominating go-getter to Shalhoub's obnoxiously callous businessman.  Kershaw is such an unlikable person that you don't really mind much that terrible things are happening to him. 

While a departure from Michael Bay's usual loud, explosion-filled fare, Pain and Gain still sports its share of thrills for the action junkies out there.  In fact, hilariously absurd is what I'd call most of the action.

The plot of Pain and Gain becomes so bizarre that you must keep in mind that it is based on a true story.  The movie even reminds you of this in a ridiculous segment near the end involving a barbeque grill.  In addition, there is humor involving Kershaw's resistance to being killed, Doorbal's erectile dysfunction, and Doyle's severed toe.  Trust me, there is a strange logic to all of these events.

Pain and Gain is the best time I have had at the movies so far in 2013 (that could easily change with Summer season starting next week).  It's a strange romp that is played for a lot of laughs, but, also keep in mind that even as inept as the Sun Gym Gang is/was, they committed some pretty horrible crimes that were no laughing matter to the victims involved.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

**** stars


Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee. Buy this on DVD when released!
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.