Film Review - PAIN & GAIN ★★½☆☆☆

Love him or hate him (there doesn't seem to be much middle ground for the guy), director / producer Michael Bay always has something up his sleeve with each of his films, and you can at least be certain you are in for a visual ride.

Pain & Gain may seem to be far off the beaten path for Bay, who has settled comfortably into our minds as the ringmaster pounding out uber expensive quick cutting FX heavy films highlighted by intense giant robot-on-robot violence. Yes, the first live-action Transformers was unleashed in 2007, and Bay's fourth installment is on the way. But with his latest film, shot on a relative minuscule budget that may not have even covered Transformers' craft service costs, Bay returns to his grounded roots that allow us to fondly recall his gritty cop comedy 1995's Bad Boys starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

For full disclosure I typically enjoy what Michael Bay brings to the big screen. Visual assault via a summer Friday movie is just what the doctor orders sometimes, it can't be all Atonement or The Artist all the time. But even with Bay stepping things down about three staircases here, it's refreshing and at times enjoyable to witness what he can put forth with a reported $25 million price tag. The camera moves consistently, the colors are often over saturated (which actually works well for its Miami setting), there are obligatory hot cars and ever hotter girls with accompanying lavish beauty shots, and even manages some Miami Vice homage imagery for good measure.

You're either a "doer" or a "don't-er," according to motivational speaker advice that hits hard with personal trainer Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg). Taking those words to heart, the over zealous gym rat enlists his bodybuilder co-worker Adrian (Anthony Mackie) and a Born Again Christian former con Paul (Dwayne Johnson) to kidnap, torture and live off the riches of a snarky local businessman (Tony Shalhoub). These roided roughneck 'do'ers' figure it best to take than earn their way to living the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

Pain & Gain, set in 1990's Miami, is based on the true story of a trio of local Miami bodybuilders (the film actually takes a pause to remind us of this at its most ridiculous moment) who turn to a calculated life of crime. Sure this pumped up spectacle is for the most part light fare, but the at times sharp dialogue in the script from Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely makes the most of Wahlberg's quick, determined and necessary dim witted delivery.

I'm not giving much away in revealing that these juice heads aren't blessed with anything above one dimensional thinking in their life of crime, and their plan is pretty much pre-determined to crumble. It's not to say that things sink to a Hans and Franz level of buffoonery, but their grand scheme is blessed only with mostly brawn, and not nearly enough brain to attain ultimate success.

The rock solid key to the film though is easily Dwayne Johnson. Riding high with his winning turns in Fast Five and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, he has become known as a 'franchise saver,' pumping fresh blood into those series. Once again Johnson knows his role by balancing big brawn and charisma with an excellence of execution to boot. It's another case of never enough Johnson on the screen, this despite his prominent role in the film.

Here as the gang's likable weak link that takes pity on their captor, being a God fearing former con Christian (cheers to a well placed Stryper reference) who slides into a coke-filled downward spiral, Johnson repeatedly shows there is so much more to him outside of the wrestling ring and on the big screen. P&G allows him to stretch his chops on a few new levels and further solidify both his tough guy image and ability to remain a treat to watch each time he swims deeper into the acting pool.

The small main cast works well for the material, as in a script weighed down with a lack of heroic characters. Wahlberg and Mackie obviously trained hard for this film and are jacked. Johnson pumped himself back into the Herculean shape that made him a WWE champion as The Rock. Mackie though has the tough gig of constantly competing with Johnson's overall likeability and Wahlberg's monologue heavy meathead mastermind. His presence here is better served through his scenes with scene stealer Rebel Wilson. Shalhoub is rarely outdone, and as the unsympathetic Columbian Jewish hostage who is not below any means to save his own ass, he is a proper foil for the film. Bay calls in favor from Ed Harris, his heavy in The Rock, for a third act appearance as Shaloub's private investigator, but his frail appearance sometimes underscores his role and the film has overstayed its welcome by the time he factors in.

What Bay does well, as always, is keeping the eye candy visuals at a constant. Nobody does it better when it comes to making a feature length movie where near every shot is framed for lavish music video standards. Thankfully his seizure inducing editing pace has been reigned in, but if your brain can tolerate Bay's prowess at 50% power for Pain & Gain's over generous two hour plus running time, you're in luck. It also goes without saying there are multiple helpings of low angle hero shots and of course a perfectly framed silhouette in front of a hazy orange drenched horizon. Plus when Johnson throws a punch, by God Bay makes sure you really feel the brutality of the impact.

Pain & Gain showcases a slick look and some solid muscle at times, and for fans of Johnson and Wahlberg, this is right up your alley. Though there are far less explosions we may have come to expect, Bay haters need not apply. If it ain't your thing, this ain't your thing. But the film  should serve as a precursor of what we can look forward to once he put Transformers behind him. Hopefully we'll see a little more in the vein of Bad Boys that starts here, maybe eventually more in the style of The Rock (still his best film). Although overall clocking in a bit too long, Pain & Gain has just enough juice and entertaining low level crime caper hijinks to pass the benchmark only for its intended audience.

Pain & Gain opens in theaters on April 26th.

REVIEW RATING: ★★½☆☆☆
Directed By: Michael Bay
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub, Ed Harris, Rob Corddry
Studio:  Paramount Pictures
Rated: R
Running Time: 129 minutes

Follow @NerdyRScoundrel