Pain & Gain (8/26/2013)

Rated R for bloody violence, crude sexual content, nudity, language throughout and drug use.

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub and Ed Harris

Directed by Michael Bay (Bad Boys and Transformers)

This movie is ALL Pain and NO Gain.

Pain and Gain looked like a funny movie about “muscle-heads” trying to get rich. But its not funny, it very dark, it’s very disturbing and very graphic…it’s also (an unfortunately) very true.

Set in Miami in the 90’s, we meet Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg), a low-life trainer who is obsessed with getting rich by any means necessary. So he hatches a “three finger plan” that consists of finding a rich person (Tony Shalhoub), taking everything he owns and enjoying the good life. So he recruits Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) and Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie) to help with the execution of his plan. Unfortunately the three of them combined couldn’t pass your basic IQ test.

Michael Bay usually directs the big-budget, summer blockbusters like Transformers and Armageddon, and with a tub of popcorn, most of his movies are pretty entertaining (Jonathan and I both agreed Transformers 2 was trash). So why he decided to make a lower budget, Fargo-style, true story is beyond me.

I still can’t decide if this movie showcases stupidity or cruelty more. I do know that as the movie progresses it gets darker and darker. Not just the tone, but visually it gets darker. The violence increases and the intelligence decreases. It gets so ridiculous; it forces those of us in the audience who are sane and reasonably intelligent to question the authenticity of the story. And as if Michael Bay himself knew our reaction, he flashes the words “yes it is still a true story” on the screen.

Normally I love the films that are based on a true story. But Bay’s decision to make a comedy out of a horrific story is disgusting and irresponsible.

The main stars include Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie. And I hate that Michael Bay made me like them less because of this film.

The supporting cast includes Rebel Wilson and Ken Jeong – two of the most inappropriate actors in Hollywood. Then there is Israeli model Bar Paly who plays an Eastern European stripper who is apparently so stupid she believes Daniel is a CIA agent. She’s also subjected to a throwaway gang rape gag for her trouble — thanks for that, Michael.

Just when I thought there wasn’t a redeemable character in the entire cast enter Ed Harris as Detective Du Bois. He’s the only likeable person in the whole movie, but he’s not enough to save it.

The scenes of violence are graphic and difficult to watch. This is crude and ugly “entertainment” and not worth your time or money. It’s a “Coaster.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No, there is way too much sex, nudity, profanity and violence in this one.

Whether they are in the gym, the bar or the bedroom, women are almost always naked or barely clothed. There are also several conversations about sex and in the warehouse scenes we see several sex toys.

When it comes to the violence, we see everything from people being punched, kicked, tortured, hit with a golf club, hit by a car, hit with weights and shot. We even see two men tried to dismember a body with a chainsaw and an axe.

There are over 115 F-words, 2 obscene hand gestures, 9 sexual references, 51 scatological terms, 49 anatomical terms, 28 mild obscenities, 6 religious profanities and 22 religious exclamations.

Like I said, this one is not for kids.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. It is pivotal scene, Daniel Lugo is inspired by a motivational speaker to be a “doer”. Both the motivational speaker and Daniel use this information for selfish immoral games. But being a “doer” is not evil, in fact scripture also tells us to be a doer.


2. Read James 1:22-25
   But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
   
   Is it easier to listen to God’s Word or to do God’s Word? Why?


3. What are some of the things in the Bible that are difficult for you to “do”?


4. How can I help you become a “DOER” of God’s Word?