Professional wrestling superstar John Cena breaks the mold of the action genre in a very dramatic performance about the chance for a family to get back together.
Cena plays Mike Chetley, a former high school wrestling champion who has been estranged from his mother (Patricia Clarkson) for ten years. However, Mike's younger brother Cal (Devon Graye) has made the decision to try out for the high school wrestling team. Despite his mother's objections, Cal decides to give it a shot and when he starts to lose, he finds inspiration in Mike.
Cal makes the 2-hour trip to see Mike, who is living in a run down trailer and is trying his best to find work. At first, Mike is reluctant to help his little brother. However, he soon realizes that Cal could be the key into Mike finally wising up and get back on good terms with their mother. Mike decides to train Cal in secret and soon while Cal begins to win his matches, Mike finally quits drinking and causing trouble. However, when a mistake from the past comes back to haunt him, will it jeopardize a chance for a family reunion?
After strutting his action muscles in THE MARINE (2006) and 12 ROUNDS (2008), professional wrestling superstar John Cena stretches his acting muscle in this very well made inspirational drama. He does well as former high school wrestling champion Mike, whose troubles get the best of him at first. He spends his time trying to find work, drinking at the local pub, and getting into bar fights, which lead to his arrests. He struggles at redemption and seems to lose it all until his little brother comes in.
Playing the younger brother who inspires Mike to once again get his old side back is Devon Graye, who goes through a change himself from a nerdy young man to someone capable of following in big brother's footsteps. Patricia Clarkson gives a great performance as the mother who is not sure what to think of all that her young son is doing until she learns that her older estranged son has been helping. Danny Glover may not seem like he is doing much but once it is revealed who he is, all things change for the better.
LEGENDARY is definitely a welcome change of pace for John Cena. He proves that not all action heroes need to be tough all the time and brings a very worthy dramatic performance here.
AlbertV's Rating: B
Rated PG-13 for suggestive material, brief partial nudity and some fighting scenes.
Run time: 106 minutes
Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films and WWE Films
Directed by Mel Damski. Produced by David Calloway. Written by John Posey. Cinematography by Kenneth Zunder. Starring John Cena, Patricia Clarkson, Devon Graye, Madeleine Martin, John Posey, Tyler Posey, Danny Glover
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