Pain & Gain
Dir: Michael Bay
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson,
Anthony
Mackie and Tony Shalhoub
We all handle ambition
differently. Some become motivated, some become intimidated, while others
ignore the feeling altogether. In Pain
& Gain, directed by Michael Bay, ambition motivates three men in ways
so absurd and disbelieving you’ll be shocked it’s actually based on a true
story.
In the image obsessed
weight lifting community of Miami Beach, personal trainer Daniel Lugo (Mark
Wahlberg) struggles to accept his place in the world. Though he routinely
discusses and displays his physical prowess, his job molding people into
fitness machines has left him in debt and stuck in a stalled professional
position. But Daniel is a “doer” and after attending a self-help/get-rich-quick
seminar by berating guru Johnny Wu (Ken Jeong) he decides to make a drastic
change with a wildly dimwitted plan. The target in question is Daniel’s wealthy
and egotistical client Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub). Daniel organizes a team
consisting of his steroid injecting co-worker Adrian (Anthony Mackie) and
recently drug-free, born again ex-con named Paul (Dwayne Johnson). The plan is
simple, kidnap and force Victor into signing over everything he owns.
Michael Bay, known more
for his fondness of explosion than social commentary, displays a different kind
of film with Pain & Gain than he
normally associates with. Though the Bay film elements are still here the
narrative is stronger than past films, however that’s not necessarily saying
much. The style qualities, like the super slow-mo action, constant pulsing
soundtrack, and color grade changes, are just a few elements that offer eye
catching yet distracting perspective. The film incorporates a dark comedic
charm early; watching the inane Lugo make sense of his life with the same
overwhelming confidence he uses on his training clients is comical. Though
maintaining the difficult quality of a comedy that combines dark components
proves faltering for this film. While the humor in the beginning is tinged with
hints of social mocking it progresses and shock takes place of finesse leaving
the topics of homophobia, misogyny, toilet humor, and religion subjugated in
infantile ways.
The area that succeeds
most is the spot-on casting choices. Wahlberg gives Lugo an early likability
that slowly deteriorates into head shaking disgust. Johnson is best as the
softhearted Paul, his comedic timing getting better with every film he does.
Shalhoub is also good as Victor, playing off his normal type and taking a turn
as a consistently obnoxious character. There are some great character
transformations throughout the film, an aspect that keeps the strained script
afloat.
Pain & Gain attempts at making a black/dark comedy, and early in the film the inspiration
can be felt, however the script lacks enough strength to continue with the
socially reflective insights and instead resorts to second-rate laughs. Though
the performances are interesting enough to keep you intrigued for a while, the
manic style overwhelms the initially interesting substance in the end.
Monte’s Rating
2.50 out of 5.00
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