12 Rounds (2009)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Renny Harlin

Writer (WGA):

Daniel Kunka (written by)

Release Date:

27 March 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

Detective Danny Fisher discovers his girlfriend has been kidnapped by a ex-con tied to Fisher's past, and he'll have to successfully complete 12 challenges in order to secure her safe release. |

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Punched In The Face | Escapee | Rescue | Hostage

Cast

John Cena	...	Det. Danny Fisher
Aidan Gillen	...	Miles Jackson
Ashley Scott	...	Molly Porter
Steve Harris	...	Special Agent George Aiken
Brian J. White	...	Det. Hank Carver (as Brian White)
Gonzalo Menendez	...	Special Agent Ray Santiago
Taylor Cole	...	Erica Kessen
Kyle Russell Clements	...	Dave Fisher (as Kyle Clements)
Peter Navy Tuiasosopo	...	Willie Dumaine
Travis Davis	...	Anthony Deluso
Nick Gomez	...	Samuel
Brian Stanton	...	FBI Agent Gator (as Brian Decaro)
Rosalind Rubin	...	FBI Agent Sheila
Billy Slaughter	...	Technician
Kim Collins	...	Phil the Plumber

Also Known As:

Twelve Rounds (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44875) | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | New Zealand:M | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-13 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | UK:12A (cut) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Ireland:12A | Mexico:B | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:12 (extreme cut) | Germany:16 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Fox Atomic

Trivia:

This is director Renny Harlin's first film to release a director's cut (in this case an "extreme cut") out on DVD.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: (At 18:30) When Officer Fisher is chasing the suspects on foot in the car after his friend gets shot in the butt, he runs through a house, then jumps over the fence in the backyard. Once he lands on the other side of the fence, you can see a cameraman's shadow very plainly being projected onto the fence.

Quotes:

Det. Danny Fisher: I'm training the world's most dominant pug. He's going through a bulking phase.

Movie Connections:

References Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)

Soundtrack:

Feel You

The Marine + Speed + Die Hard: With a Vengeance + Renny Harlin = Good old fashioned, fun action flick.

This type of movies are predictable. Good guy vs. Bad guy. Yes, from the trailer we've all seen it before. We know what's gonna happen next. But what's refreshing about "12 Rounds", the latest John Cena outing, is that it has solid action scenes, that were filmed for real, thus giving the movie an extra edge. All of this is thanks to director Renny Harlin.

I am not ashamed to call myself a fan of Renny Harlin. He, as you may know, is a director who puts his heart in crafting white-knuckle action. Think "Die Hard 2", "Cliffhanger", and "The Long Kiss Goodnight". All of those films contain many thrilling action, most of them filmed practically, without CGI. The film's plot, although a blatant but forgivable rip-off of "DH3" and with elements of "The Marine" works well with Harlin because it is what he does best - making solid action FOR REAL. Two action sequences deserve mention here; Cena's character (unintentionally...I think) using a fire engine to destroy part of New Orleans faster than Hurricane Katrina ever will, and a sequence involving a tram, which is impressive.

As for the acting, it's pretty mediocre at best, but with action movies, it's normal nowadays. John "Matt Damon on steroids" Cena here, however, is a step up from his previous "Marine", here he's more flexible and believable. Brian J. White is okay as his partner, as per his sweetheart, Ashley Scott. The villain played by Aiden Gillen, is what could be the first time I've seen a movie villain be intelligent and annoying at the same time. The rest of the cast, especially the FBI agents, fall flat.

And finally, as far as believability goes, the film is not nearly as ridiculous as "The Marine", it's more realistic. Sure, there are few "ok that's bull" scenes, but there's very little of that, in fact in a scene I thought Cena would become Evel Knievel but thankfully he didn't.

So in short, it's a big, loud, dumb, and fun time waster. See it for the action only. It's a big breath of fresh air after CGI laden DTV nonsense. Glad to see Harlin back doing what he does best; old school action.

Entertainment value: 7.5/10

Overall: 6/10