Pain & Gain Review: Michael Bay believes in fitness

Dir. Michael Bay
129 Minutes
Rated R

[WARNING:  This is based on a true story, so spoilers for real life ahead]

Pain and Gain is based on a true story which was featured in a 1999 Miami New Times article recounting a group of criminal bodybuilders who kidnapped, extorted money, and tortured victims, two of whom ultimately received the death penalty.  The film marks a return to roots for Michael Bay, who took a break from having giant robots punch each other in the Transformers series for a low budget action picture similar in expense to his directorial debut Bad Boys. The cast, including Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, took pay cuts to keep costs low for this "little," more character-driven piece.  But never fear, it's still as bat shit insane as anything else Bay has produced.


The plot is nothing particularly exciting.  Wahlberg plays Daniel Lugo, a jacked up fitness trainer who wants to live the American dream.  When he meets and trains Tony Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub), a generic rich asshole, he decides to gather himself a team (made up of The Rock and Anthony Mackie), kidnap the guy, and extort him for all he's worth!  Sounds like a solid plan to me.  The theme of the movie certainly isn't original (in fact Wahlberg's character lists off a ton of films with the same idea - Scarface, The Godfather, etc), but these characters are so strangely likable and out-of-whack with reality it was fun to watch throughout.  Even with Bay's ADHD sensibilities and the nonsensical plot (that supposedly happened in real life...yeah OK), I enjoyed this movie a bunch and it certainly fits in with the Bad Boys I and II vibe perfectly.

At 2 hours long, I think the film overstays its welcome a bit (as do most of Bay's movies).  There are certain scenes that drone on a little too long, like a lot of the stuff with Shaloub's character.  For the most part though, the three main muscle-headed guys are hilarious, and Pain & Gain has a ton of black humor (as in really dark subject matter, not "Tyler Perry" humor).  This trio of dunderheaded iron pumpers are funnier than the characters in most comedies nowadays, and if it weren't for this being based on real life events, I'd love to see them in an even more over-the-top sequel.  Here it seems that Bay just hit the tone right on the money -- it knew what it was and I was laughing with it, not at it.  But like I said, it's overlong and the theme can wear you down a little bit...enough with this whole "American dream" thing, Hollywood! And stop putting American flags everywhere in the background to remind us about it!  Anyways, go see it for the ridiculous testosterone-fueled hilarity between these perfectly casted guys (who beefed up considerably for their roles).  It's a fun flick, and with the right audience (i.e. not mine), you'll surely have a great time with your greasy popcorn and ugly friends.

Rating: B-