“Pain & Gain” is based on a true story about three guys who are tired of the poor life and are looking for a fast way to get rich.
Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) is a regular bodybuilder and personal trainer at a Florida Gym called the “Sun Gym” along with his friend Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie). They both concoct a plan to kidnap and extort money from a gym member Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub) who is a rich business man.
Along the way Daniel and Adrian convince a recently paroled convict Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) to help them. They became “The Sun Gym Gang”. They successfully get Kershaw to sign over all of his holdings and money, but when Kershaw survives their murder attempt on him, he convinces investigator Ed Du Bois (Ed Harris) to try and get his money and property back. The story unfolds from there…
I found it very hard to believe that this story was true. It’s such a hare-brained scheme. Some of the events seemed impossible to pull off.
There is a tremendous amount of crude sexuality, nudity and profane language used in the movie.
There are some really funny parts where you will be laughing out loud at them, but not with them. There are too many plot wrinkles. Too much graphic violence and the saga is just plain dizzy.
If you are familiar with this story then by all means do see “Pain & Gain” otherwise wait for it on DVD, Blue Ray or Cable.
Tag: Mark Wahlberg
Broken City
“What a tangled web we weave when we are trying to Deceive!!” “Broken City” puts an interesting twist on a “Political Thriller”.
Mark Wahlberg plays ex-cop Billy Taggert who knows there is plenty of injustice in the city. After being double-crossed by the one and only Mayor (Russell Crowe) who happens to be the most popular guy in town; Billy has his hands full trying to prove the injustice, get revenge and redemption.
Billy’s endless pursuit almost gets him killed, but that isn’t going to stop him. The story unfolds from there…
There are several agendas that play out in this movie and that is what makes it interesting. Although there is plenty of suspense and intrigue, the movie could have had a more detailed ending. There were a couple of holes left unfilled. Things are not always as they seem.
The paid critics were “Luke-warm” about “Broken City”, but I felt it was pretty good. If you like Political Suspense Thrillers, this is your movie.