Displaying items by tag: John Cena

LITTLE BROTHER

US, 2026, 102 minutes, Colour.

John Cena, Eric Andre, Michelle Monaghan, Christopher Meloni, Sherry Cola, Ego Nwodim, Caleb Hearon, Ben Ahlers,

Directed by Matt Spicer.

Little Brother is an amusing comedy with many raucous moments. The film has an MA certificate, and there needs to be an alert for sensitive viewers. Stand-up comedian, Eric Andre, as Marcus, the Little Brother, refers to some of the human as “inappropriate” and “crude”. Response to this kind of humour will vary from sensibility to sensibility. And, the references usually are to sexuality, sexual issues, bodily functions… And, these are all here. It raises the question about sensitivities, the difference between crude and crass, and issues of how robust a sense of humour can be.

There is great deal of sentiment and values in the screenplay along with the “inappropriate”. John Cena plays a thing realtor in New York City, always with his eye on his older brother, the very successful entrepreneur, played by Christopher Meloni. And he has a devoted wife, Michelle Monaghan, as well as two young sons – already exhibiting the clash between the brothers.

In his younger days, Rudd, John Cena, has befriended a Little Brother, Marcus, who continues to value the everlasting friendship which, of course, Rudd has forgotten. Marcus has checked himself into an establishment, undergoing therapy, desperate and corresponding with Rudd – but, all the correspondence, building up a friendship, is actually with Rudd’s assistant, Mia (Sherry Cola).

Then he arrives in New York, a dominating character, all the behaviour associated with stand-up comedy, jokes, and going into action. In the meantime, Rudd is auditioning for a reality TV show, with the most pressing and obsequious producers, arrival realtor wanting his show.

Rudd’s wife is most welcoming, realises the tension in the marriage, is supportive of Marcus, welcoming him into the home – with all kinds of mayhem and disastrous consequences. But, he charms the producers and becomes an essential part of the reality show, everything being filmed, Rudd becoming more depressed and jealous, Marcus enjoying the experience, even the older brother joining in.

Ironically, Rudd wrapped is to be presented with the annual Big Brother award, to be presented by Marcus – but, even more complications, Rudd taking some drugs and behaving badly, completely misunderstanding the relationship between his older brother and Marcus and their wanting to do good for Rudd, going to the awards at walking out after giving up his speech. But, the producers always working with AI are able to substitute photos of the real characters on the stand-ins…

Eventually, of course, Rudd has to come to his senses, reconcile with family, find out the truth about Marcus and bring him into the family.

The film is able to balance the sentiment, even some sentimentality, with the roughness and rudeness of the humour. Its heart is, ultimately, in the right place.

HIDDEN STRIKE

US/China, 2023, 102 minutes, Colour.

Jackie Chan, John Cena, Pilou Asbaek, Chunrui Ma, Wenli Jiang, Amadeus Serafini.

Directed by Scott Waugh.

There are quite a number of strikes in this action film, none of them particularly hidden!

This is a Jackie Chan film and that is what the audiences go to see, not a serious study in world politics…!

And, fans will not be disappointed. The location is Iraq, the desert, oil refineries, the Green Zone, ships and harbours waiting oil transportation. Which means that there is an underlying plot, relevant to the 21^st-century, oil supplies, the Middle East. And there are international developments.

Jackie Chan, very agile turning 70, full of enthusiasm, fighting stunts, some gymnastics and athleticism. And he is joined by film star and former wrestler, John Cena, tall, weightier, strong. At first antagonism, then a collaboration.

The film was directed by Scott Waugh, familiar with this type of action film, Expendables 4, Runner.

1. Audience expectations, the presence of Jackie Chan, his long career, fights, stunts, choreography? And joined with John Cena?
2. Topical issues of the 2020s, oil production, Iraq, Chinese collaboration, exploitation and stealing of oil?
3. The locations, the desert, the oil plants, the production lines, the underground tunnels, the ship waiting?
4. The situation, the Chinese presence, the threats, international gangs, the stealing of the oil, the evacuation of the workers, Professor, codes for the oil, the buses, leader, the rescue, the attack?
5. Jackie Chan, his presence, in command, the expedition, the evacuation, the buses, the attack? In the plane, the orphanage, the confrontation with Chris, suspicions, the orphans, the two banding together, the common enemy?
6. Chris, his history, private security, the death of his father, working the orphanage, the friendship with the children, Old McDonald’s Farm, the village, the need for water, mercenaries and the consequences for the village?
7. Paddock, his work in Iraq, the oil, his sense of the injustices, leading the attack, merciless, the death of Chris’s brother, the capture of the Chinese, shooting hostages, the pressure on the Professor, the tracker for the bag, the mercenary group attacking the orphanage, the confrontation, the bag, the codes, the ship waiting, the tunnels, the movement of the oil?
8. Dragon Luo, his daughter, her presence, alienation, memories, the photos? His work with Chris, the strategies? The huge vehicle, barging through the oil refinery, the daughter following in the car?
9. The centrepiece with all the fighting, the choreography, the inventiveness, the fight with everybody covered in foam, the chase with the desert, going over the cliff, calling out for help, Chris climbing up…
10. The villain, his going over the cliff? The rescue, the water and the well, the future of the village?

FREELANCE

US, 2023, 108 minutes, Colour.

John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Christian Slater, Marton Csokas, Alice Eve.

Directed by Pierre Morel.

Once upon a time, once upon a Cinema time, the used to be Saturday matinees, especially for children’s audiences. Lots of adventures, heroes, damsels in distress, serials and cliffhangers at the end of every episode…

Those days are long gone but there has been a long tradition since then of action adventures, often impossible situations, strong heroes (and, for some time now, always with guns), no longer damsels in distress – maybe the distress but strong-minded leading ladies who share in the action.

Freelance is one of these films. Some critics sadly will ask why? And audiences answer, why not!

The action heroes that we have become used to, Sylvester, Arnie…, are now in their late 70s (but still seeing themselves as Expendables). Here we have John Cena, in his 40s, big, square-jawed, champion wrestler and still commentator on WWE on film and television. He is more in the tradition of Dwayne Johnson are certainly not as charismatic.

Actually, there is quite a lot of comedy in Freelance. It may remind action movie buffs of Romancing the Stone, or more recently, The Lost City, traipsing through jungles, enemies in pursuit, and some deadpan dialogue. And, speaking of Expendables, some of the action may be considered in that vein.

And, speaking of vain, John Cena as Mason Pettiits, bored after heavy action overseas in his current work as a lawyer, persuaded to take up protecting an ambitious journalist, is not vain. But the president of the fictional Paldonia (think any Latin American country), definitely is. His played by Juan Pablo Raba who is clearly enjoying himself right throughout the film, and this is quite infectious for those who are willing as we enjoy his company – for most of the time very dapper, immaculately clean white suit, always buttoned, no matter what the crisis, no matter the weapons, no matter the danger.

Alison brie plays Claire Wellington, top journalist, award-winning, shamed when exposed is not researching her sources sufficiently, invited by the president to interview him checking with a security company (the head played by Mason’s former colleague, Sebastian, played by Christian Slater – who is eight years older than John Cena, but…). And, filming the coup, the fighting, she has the perfect television program for more awards.

So, it is that kind of film. It does have a contemporary justice moral, the reforms begun by the formally exploitative President, the influence and lobby of South African mercenaries (led by New Zealand actor, Marton Csokas, seen enjoying his little girl ballet dancing to Swan Lake and then, South African accent, becoming a snarling, menacing villain) and international companies wanting to exploit mineral resources for future technology, the battle for the poor and integrity.

Not high cinema, never intending to be, but under the direction of the French Pierre Morel (Taken, to Paris with Love, The Gunmen) it has been made for an enjoyable time off.

1. A blend of action adventure with comedy? Successful?
2. The settings, American military action overseas, the quiet town, home, legal office, the contrast with the big industrial company, and the Latin American country, town, government Palace, interiors, and the countryside? The musical score?
3. The narration by Mason? As a boy, influences when young, ambitions, sense of self, studies, lawyer, enlisting, exhilaration in action, the loss of friends? At home, tensions, his cheeky daughter, his wife impatient? Moving out? At the office, the client and his enthusiasm, the contact from Sebastien, the offer, his taking it?
4. Clare Wellington, seen on air, her reporting, the award, checking her facts, petty jobs, the invitation from the president? The need for protection? Sebastian employing Mason? The meeting, tension, the flight, his watching videos?
5. The political situation, American interventions, the South African company, lobbying, precious metals and exploitation? The opposition and rebels? The president and his nephew as a figurehead for taking over?
6. Juan Pablo Raba as the president, his enjoying the performance, meeting the plane, making everyone welcome, sense of self, the attack, violence and deaths, Mason rescuing them, on the run? His saving them after helicopter raid, his village, his friends, being welcomed? Casual clothes in the interview? His dapper white suit, always buttoned, never dirty, and, ultimately, bullet-proof? His acknowledgement of the past, his change of heart, working for the people?
7. The introduction to the South African colonel, his daughter and Swan Lake? Going into action, his ruthlessness, his squad, mercenaries, ambitions? The pursuit of Mason and the president? Capturing Clare? Confrontations, deals and exchange? Trapping everyone in the village? The setup, the prisoner giving himself up, then all the rebels coming out in support of him, the confusion? At the palace, the invasion, the fights, the secret tunnels, the bullet-proof suit? The death of his nephew? Clare filming everyone? His future secured after his shooting the general behind the coup?
8. Mason and Claire, odd couple, like Romancing the Stone, the adventures, shooting, riding the horses, Mason and his shooting, his war wounds and bad back? Phone calls to Sebastian? The helicopter raid and the pursuit? The discussions with the president, orders to kill him, listening to him, bonding? The action in the palace, the fight with the colonel, success? Returning home, reconciliation with his wife, the daughter – and the big cheque?
9. The background of Sebastian, war companion, all his company, contracts, resources, offloading the South Africans, coming to the rescue?
10. The popularity of this kind of blend of comedy and action?