Plot
The Rock plays Beck, a 'retrieval expert' who really wants to be a chef. The film opens with him entering a bar, looking for some money from a football player. The player doesn't have the money, so Beck wants his championship ring for collateral. This leads to a messy encounter with the player's large friends. Of course, Beck comes out of it unscathed, and demonstrates his considerable skill. He gets the ring, but his boss' back-up takes it from him.
As compensation, Beck's boss offers one more job to Beck. Then, he's free to go and open his restaurant. This job is to retrieve the boss' son, Travis. Beck agrees, and the fun begins.
Upon entering the Amazon, Beck meets the head of the mining corporation keeping the natives opressed. Hatcher, played by Walken, wants Travis for himself. After Beck finds Travis, Hatcher and his goons Try to stop them. It seems that the pair get away, but Travis dumps them over a cliff and into the jungle. They get lost, but are found by Mariana, a local girl who is a member of the local rebels.
It seems that Travis has stumbled onto a priceless artifact that may bring prosperity to the people of the Amazon. Mariana convinces both Beck and Travis to find the artifact, then they can go. They get it, but Mariana drugs the pair. She gets kidnapped by Hatcher, and Beck decides to rescue her and the artifact.
This leads to an amazing final battle involving cattle and Beck using guns, which he avoided using the entire movie.
My Thoughts
This was one entertaining action film. It had everything a good movie needs. Action, humor, and superb performances by the leads. Except of course from Rosario Dawson, who I hate with a passion. The Rock, as I have said before, has got what it takes to take the mantle of new action hero. He performs with apparant ease, and switches easily from humor to action. His chemistry with Seann William Scott was apparant.
The other treat in this movie was Christopher Walken. He was so great. His tooth fairy speech is priceless. He definatly relished this role, and it made the movie so much more enjoyable. He is one of my favorite actors of all time, and this cemented that place even more. All in all, this was one of my favorites of the year. Hands down, the best pure action film of 2003. Here's to The Rock's follow-up, the remake of Walking Tall.
