Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Ken Jeong, Rob Corddry, Ed Harris, Tony Shalhoub
Running Time: 129 Mins
Certificate: 15
When the words ‘Michael Bay’ are uttered in any film related chat or debate, the mind typically associates the director with explosions, destruction and the demolition of very expensive cars. For those of you that don’t know, Michael Bay is the director of incredibly successful, popcorn entertainment films such as ARMAGEDDON and the TRANSFORMERS trilogy. These films are known for their numerous forms of eye candy seen in the shape of scantly-clad women and worldwide devastation, rather than their narrative or intellectual subtext.
PAIN AND GAIN however, offers something a little bit different from what audiences have come to expect from Bay in the form of a serious drama based on true events. The film revolves around a man named Daniel Lugo (Wahlberg) who is obsessed by his passion for fitness and the ‘American dream‘. Lugo decides to recruit two fellow body builders Adrian Doorbal (Mackie) and Paul Doyle (Johnson), to help him ‘legally’ acquire the money and assets of an arrogant millionaire through torture and harassment. Suffice to say, this plan does not run smoothly and it’s not long before things start to go horribly wrong for our morally ambiguous protagonists. It’s clear from the start of PAIN AND GAIN that Bay has put a lot of thought into his ‘passion project‘ that he had been tempting to get off the ground since 2009.
Rather than the explosion-heavy spectacle associated with Bay due to his prior blockbuster outings, PAIN AND GAIN definitely feels as if it has some sort of moral compass and message for the audience to take home from the fate of its three main characters. Having said that, the message buried deep within the films narrative is somewhat clouded by a few typical Bay-isms that can be spotted throughout, such as a few unnecessary action moments and heavy emphasis on women with a distinct lack of clothing. Another aspect of the film that detracts from the overall narrative is the odd fluctuation in points of view from the characters which is shown through multiple voice-overs at different points in the film, this could leave the audience unsure of which character to follow and identify with.
Although PAIN AND GAIN has small downfalls, it’s also thoroughly entertaining which is surprising considering the dark tone and fair share of shocking moments. It is even more surprising that the film is actually very funny at times despite the shocking and horrific nature of the actions taking place. This is almost certainly due to the likability of PAIN AND GAIN’s main stars who are of course the increasingly popular Mark Wahlberg (TED, 2 GUNS) and Dwayne Johnson (FAST & FURIOUS 6, G.I. JOE: RETALIATION). Casting these easily likable and identifiable actors as the films protagonists helps the audience feel comfortable with their morally ambiguous actions, therefore disturbingly implicating us as the viewers in their crimes. Wahlberg carries the film on his shoulders and drives the narrative effortlessly as the confident and ambitious Lugo, whilst Johnson threatens to steal the show as the child-like Doyle who is easily manipulated by Lugo’s words.
The film is incredibly enjoyable and also displays some clever cinematography such as an ingenious shot of Wahlberg half engulfed in water, visually juxtaposing his large physical exterior with his ambitious and naive mind. Rob Corddry (HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, WARM BODIES) also makes a memorable appearance as Lugo’s employer and accomplice which is just another reminder of how much we all love the actor. All in all PAIN AND GAIN is a gripping crime-drama that diversifies itself from Michael Bay’s previous directorial efforts such as TRANSFORMERS.
[usr=4] PAIN AND GAIN is available now on DVD and Blu-ray.
