John Bonito directs John Cena, Kelly Carlson and Robert Patrick in this action thriller where a dishonourably discharged marine’s wife is kidnapped (eventually) by an evil gang of crooks on the run.

Dishonourably discharged for being too goddamn All-American heroic, by the way. This is a stinker. Should be a neat little Hard Target rip-off where a lunk rampages in the backwaters but does everything but stick to that brief. The explosions are regular and visually arousing. Robert Patrick plays his villain role like he owns it. That aside The Marine is lowest common denominator slop that can’t even reach its own short bar. Surprised Cena has been starring in product for this long. Better things were to come but he’s no The Rock or Rowdy Piper. This isn’t a vehicle so much as an unassembled kit car.

3

Perfect Double Bill: 12 Rounds (2009)

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