Written by Arianna Hurst
Grappling with a shallow plot, “Legendary” debuts with some dewy-eyed scenes and a clichéd coming-of-age theme that makes the film more ordinary than legendary.John Cena (World Wrestling Entertainment big wig and “12 Rounds” star) plays a familiar role as Mike Chetley, a juiced-up former high school pro wrestler who spends most nights glowering over booze at a local tavern. He is haunted by the loss of his “legendary” father, who died from a car accident on the way to scout a wrestling opponent, and by the estrangement from his still-grieving mother. Cena’s quietly delivered lines were stirring and believable.His brother, Cal Chetley (Devon Graye from “Dexter”), is a measly 135-pound high school beanpole bullied by his classmates. Jaded by the put-downs, Cal is determined to join the wrestling team to earn respect and dignity. He then pursues Mike, after years without contact, to be his mentor and coach. Their mother, Sharon (Oscar nominee Patricia Clarkson), plays a convincing role as a distressed single parent who frowns upon the sport she lost her husband to.Harry “Red” Newman (played by “Lethal Weapon” star and Emmy nominee Danny Glover) is a folksy fisherman who offers insightful instruction when Cal seems to be disheartened. His identity unveils a surprising twist near the end.Most of the film danced on the surface and did not offer much depth. I wanted to see more character development and growth and mending between the family that was broken. However, there is an uplifting bar scene that reflects Mike’s new disgust with alcohol; another touching scene was shared between Mike and his mother when she learned how to dispose of her bitterness about the accident and forgive her son. Clarkson’s performance was quite compelling.Conversely, characters like Luli were distracting. Luli (Madeleine Martin) is Cal’s punk, “girl next door” admirer with a Lady Gaga-ish wardrobe that seemed out of place in the rural Sooner setting. Her shrill wanna-be Southern accent was also out of place. Her pubescent romance with Cal was awkward and detracted from the main plot.Theater costs are too pricey to wrestle with for this feature. The PG-13 film may have more potential as a Redbox front-runner. While it is occasionally entertaining and at times inspirational, overall, the film is a far cry from legendary.NOTE: This review reflects the author’s opinion and evaluation of the film.
