Walking Tall (2004)

Directed by Kevin Bray. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Neal McDonough, Johnny Knoxville, Michael Bowen, Kevin Durand, Ashley Scott, Kristen Wilson, John Beasley, Barbara Tarbuck, Khleo Thomas. [PG-13]

Special Forces soldier Johnson returns to his rural hometown only to find it overrun with drugs and gambling, both of which are supplied by local “respectable” casino operator McDonough, so Johnson decides to become sheriff and clean house with muscle and a sturdy piece of cedar. Remake of the 70s Joe Don Baker “true-to-life” action story of Sheriff Buford Pusser barely resembles its predecessor (Johnson’s character is even named Chris Vaughn), and basically just borrows title recognition and the basic premise. Comprised of the standard ingredients: the slick but corrupt heavy, the concerned but supportive family, a comic relief buddy/deputy (Knoxville), a gratuitous love interest in the form of an undeveloped stripper-with-a-heart-of-gold (Scott), and lots of bruising brawls and bloodless gunplay. Not the worst vehicle for Johnson at that early stage of his career (he was still being credited then as “The Rock”), but the tone is erratic, and the narrative is far too thin and fragmented for the audience to ever get invested in the action—discounting the end credits, it’s over and done in less than 75 minutes! Film debut for Cobie Smulders in a bit part.

44/100