WWE films do not have the best ... anything, really. But the word I was looking for was "reputation." I've made it a point to make sure I watch and buy a whole bunch of them. Because if I'm going to buy crappy straight-to-dvd movies, I may as well support a company I like, despite what I said about my original thoughts on this year's Summerslam and my opinions on a bunch of the other PPVs. The Reunion is the third John Cena film, after the surprisingly fun the Marine and the surprisingly good 12 Rounds. So of course I want to see it! And ...
You know what, it is pretty daggum good. I am a sucker for WWE films, but it is pretty ok! It comes across a little like a TV movie, though shot better, just in scope. Like, actors wear basically the same thing and are on basically the same sets unless they are the lead three guys, the music is kind of generic though enjoyable, and the faces are ... well, they are all TV actors I've seen. And liked, mind you. They are all very good. The biggest name is Amy Smart, who is barely in the film at all. The movie is really about the brothers, probably why the original name was Blood Brothers. Oh, hold up, plot, plus a little backstory.
Abusive drunk dad is a sex fiend. Fathers four kinds with four different women. He raises the kinds, with Cena as the eldest, and the youngest, Douglas, who the others never met and never grew up with. Their lives are all shambles, with rage issues and other things. Douglas is a thief, Cena is a cop who got suspended, and Ethan Embry (who I have always liked, and is pretty daggum good in this) is a not particularly good bail bondsman. Well, movie opens with the dad dying, and leaving three million dollars to each kid, but all of it comes with a stipulation: Amy Smart, the sister, holds onto all of it until they can create a business together and work together for a certain amount of years, then they get their inheritance. So the brothers all go looking for some bad guys who kidnapped a dude in Mexico.
The film is well acted, pretty well made, and is mostly all right. It isn't as balls-to-the-wall action packed fun as the past two Cena films, probably because the budget is smaller, but it has some moments to really enjoy. I liked it. It isn't great, but I liked it. Just a standard TV-style action flick.
Standard being the important word there. There is nothing shocking or surprising or even great in this movie. It is a great rental, and a super good watch for Netflix. But in the long run, if it wasn't for the WWE being a part of it, this movie wouldn't matter at all. And that just cycles back to why I like WWE studio films. I say give it a chance.
Grade: C+
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