Today’s quick review: Walking Tall. After eight years of military service, Chris Vaughn (Dwayne Johnson) returns to his hometown to find it a changed place. A casino owned by Jay Hamilton (Neal McDonough) has replaced the lumber mill as the town’s main source of revenue, dealers are selling drugs to children, and the sheriff (Michael Bowen) looks the other way. Fed up with the injustice, Chris decides to take the law into his own hands.
Walking Tall is an action movie about a veteran who sets out to clean up his hometown by force. Loosely based on a true story, Walking Tall sees Chris Vaughn go from victim to hero as he tackles the criminal activity coming from Jay’s casino. The movie features up-close-and-personal action that makes good use of Dwayne Johnson’s physique, plus a feel-good attitude. However, its short run time and loose drama limit it to being a popcorn watch.
Walking Tall’s main appeal is justified violence. Chris is a responsible, reasonable man who gets pushed too far by Jay’s thugs. His direct approach to problem-solving leads to the movie’s healthy complement of brawling and property damage, with the occasional shootout as things get heated. Walking Tall doesn’t concern itself too much with whether Chris is technically in the right, opting for the simpler draw of bad men getting what they deserve.
The tradeoff, though, is that Walking Tall does not have the depth that it could have. The movie touches briefly on questions of justice, violence, and the dangers of drugs, then brushes past them in favor of more action. This won’t be much of a loss for action fans, but those hoping for a nuanced crime drama may be frustrated by how close the movie comes. Additionally, Walking Tall sticks to a brief, fast-paced plot without many surprises.
Walking Tall is a decent pick for fans of the Rock or of action movies in general. Its easy premise and satisfying action make it a feel-good watch for anyone isn’t a stickler for realistic drama. Those who prefer deeper stories or more exaggerated action will get less out of it. For a more aggressive Dwayne Johnson movie about a man’s hunt for justice, try Faster. For a grittier tale of a veteran pushed beyond his limits, try First Blood.
6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for straightforward action and likable characters.