The Scorpion King (2002)

Directed by Chuck Russell. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kelly Hu, Steven Brand, Grant Heslov, Bernard Hill, Michael Clarke Duncan, Peter Facinelli, Branscombe Richmond, Ralf Moeller. [PG-13]

This spinoff prequel in the Mummy franchise gave Johnson (still going by “The Rock”) his first starring role in a feature film and hearkened back to a time when muscular, bare-chested he-men could beat the heck out of a hundred or so extras and call it a day. The antagonist of The Mummy Returns is a hero here, an Akkadian who is joined by the usual ragtag allies (including sorceress Hu and man-of-science Hill) on his quest for vengeance against ruthless warlord Brand. The tongue-barely-held-in-cheek tone is established early on when Johnson shoots a stooge with an arrow that causes the body to crash through a wall and keep flying back a few more dozen feet, and thank goodness for that, because if anyone on either side of the camera took any of this nonsense seriously, it would be a loooong haul. Not bad for its type, but interest wanes even over the course of a mere hour-and-a-half; though he flexes far more muscles than acting chops, Johnson proves right away that he can carry an action picture. Be grateful that the songs filling the soundtrack album (from Godsmack, Nickelback, P.O.D., Hoobastank, and the like) are relegated to the end credits or don’t appear at all. Followed by four direct-to-video sequels and prequels, none with Johnson reprising his role.

54/100