With the Disney channel having turned an entire generation of American actors into hair farmer milk babies, there’s a been major hole for tough guys who can play the Arnold Schwarzenegger/Bruce Willis/Steve McQueen-type roles, and Jason Statham can only fill it so many times. The Rock, who was a pro wrestler, but actually seems charismatic and likable, has long seemed like a logical candidate, but so far, his filmography thus far has been more Hulk Hogan than Arnold (hastag subtle burn). Snitch opens February, and at the very least it seems somewhat aimed at adults. It co-stars Michael K. Williams (OMAR!), Susan Sarandon, and Barry Pepper (who really doesn’t get enough work), and The Rock plays a truck driver who infiltrates a drug cartel for the police in exchange for keeping his son out of prison. In the end, I’m sure we’ll all learn an important lesson about how when you mess with drugs, you’re gambling with your future, just like in that afternoon special where Ben Affleck ruins his life because of steroids.
Inspired by true events, the film stars Johnson as a father whose teenage son is wrongly accused of a drug distribution crime and is looking at a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years. Desperate and determined to rescue his son at all costs, he makes a deal with the U.S. Attorney to work as an undercover informant and infiltrate a drug cartel on a dangerous mission- risking everything, including his family and his own life.
Snitch was directed by Ric Roman Waugh, a long time stunt coordinator who last directed 2008’s Felon, which scored 61% on the Tomatometer despite starring Stephen Dorff and Val Kilmer as a badass ex-con, which seems like a coup. The trailer… could go either way. I think I was with it until the rap-metal kicked in. I mean, I like the truck driver-trying-to-make-good-by-his-son angle, but maybe instead of infiltrating a drug gang, he could go win a big arm wrestling tournament instead? Has that ever been done? I don’t know, I’m just spitballing here.
[via Yahoo, opens February 22nd]