PAIN & GAIN
US, 2013, 129 minutes, Colour.
Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub, Ed Harris, Rob Corddry, Rebel Wilson, Michael Rispoli.
Directed by Michael Bay.
‘Finesse’ is used by one of the main characters in Pain & Gain. However, it is not a word that immediately springs to mind while watching the film.
Many audiences will be alerted by the name of the director, Michael Bay. With such films as Bad Boys, Pearl Harbor, The Island and The Transformer series, fans of these films will have no hesitation in rushing to the box office and will probably not be disappointed. Others who fear that Michael Bay films are too bombastic in style, and the volume to noisy to sit through, will probably be well advised to give this one a miss.
However, though it does go on and on a bit, it has its moments. But it also has its down moments.
It is probably best described as a black comedy, a parody of robberies and crimes. The characters are not at all likeable, though very well played, and there are quite a lot of nasty moments. And Bay has thrown in some gross-out moments which will have even well-spoken audiences exclaiming ‘yuck’, and some bits of violence that are more than in your face.
The idea behind the black comedy is in many ways amusing. We see Mark Wahlberg as a gym fitness trainer running away from a squad of police and then the film goes into flashback. A screenplay has the very good device of having each of the central characters explain themselves and their background to the audience, intercutting with the action and continuing throughout the film. Lots of explanations which are comic and ironic (not to the characters themselves). Danny goes on and on about the American dream and his wanting to achieve it, even going to a seminar conducted by a manic Ken Jeong urging people to be doers rather than donters. Trouble for Danny is that a number of his heroes fulfilling the American dream are the main characters from The Godfather trilogy. He resents many of his clients, especially a food restaurant king played with heroic patience point Tony Shaloub. If awards for film endurance under torture and attempted killings were to be given, it would surely be to Tony Shaloub for Pain & Gain.
Danny also has a hold over the manager of the gym, played with more than usual quiet comedy by Rob Corddry.
The first ally in his schemes to abduct Shaloub, get documents signed by a notary, Corddry, which will give him complete possession home and money from Shaloub is an ex-prisoner who has gotten religion and been born again, though not always practising, played by Dwayne Johnson. In a sense, OK so far, but halfway through Johnon’s character, Paul, starts to snort cocaine which seems in contradiction to his character up till then and the credibility of his character and part in the plot goes downhill. The third partner in crime is played by Anthony Mackie, a would-be musclebound character who suffers from impotence. Not the most likely group for high crime.
But the screenplay parodies their attempts at crime showing them for the really, really dumb characters that they are, despite their high estimation of themselves. Wahlberg is good at taking himself seriously while communicating his below-par intelligence. And his discovery of his mistakes. Dwayne Johnson has shown in several films that he is able to play characters who don’t understand themselves and his timing for comedy is very good. Mackie, usually a serious actor, participates in the parody.
In the latter part of the film, Ed Harris turns up as a private detective, bringing at least some sense of seriousness to the proceedings.
One of the scene-stealers is Australian, Rebel Wilson, with much the same performance as she gives in every film, A Few Best Men, What to expect when you’re expecting, Pitch Perfect, Bachelorette. And she doesn’t change her accent. She can get away with all kind of outlandish remarks because of her comic and seemingly ingenuous presence.
So, a mixed experience, a macho show and not designed for a female audience. It’s one of those shows that appeals to the blokes.
1. A Michael Bay film? Big, bombastic, action, macho?
2. The Florida settings, sun, weather, the Sunshine State? The gym, the interiors, the restaurants, the pornography warehouse, lavish homes, ordinary homes? Contrasts between wealthy and ordinary? The lively score?
3. The cast, acting in type, against type, being dumb, yet the irony? Comic, timing, jokes, gross-out, gore? The effect of this humour?
4. The setup, Daniel and his exercise, the police in pursuit, his escape, interest in him, the reasons for his flights?
5. The screenplay and the stories, each character with the voiceover, explaining themselves and their lives, revealing themselves, taking the audience into their confidence? Ed Dubois and his overall direction narration?
6. The setup, Daniel and his character, working in the gym, his self-image, the American dream, capitalist, having cash, success and reputation? Slow-witted? His seeing the commercial, going to the seminar, the conductor of the seminar and his over-the-top estimation of himself? His testing of Daniel? ‘Doers and donters’?
7. Vic Kershaw, Tony Shalhoub and his performance? His success, restaurants, money, and the Bahamas? Background in Columbia, Jewish? Lavish house, family? The gym and workouts? Daniel and his envy, Vic becoming a target?
8. Daniel, his envy, his plan, not too bright, overlooking details and information? Ignorant? His having to make do? His work and John, getting the job, the flashbacks to his past fraud schemes, prison? His being accepted, promising to make a profit at the gym?
9. The encounter with Paul, at the gym, Dwayne Johnson and his screen presence, in prison, free and born-again, references to the scriptures? Going to the church, the priest, working, the priest’s sexual approach? His needs, agreement to work with Daniel, his caution, giving his consent to the scheme? Participation in the abduction, and the plans and there not working out, the comic touches? The effect, wealth, the girlfriend, taking cocaine, going berserk, spending all the money? How credible the changing of his character?
10. Adrian, black, at the gym, wanting to be a muscleman, sexual impotence, idolising Daniel, but dumb? The discussions with the therapist, the talk, the date, marriage, wealth and the house?
11. The plan and the abduction, the variety of situations, the locations, the vehicles, the weapons, Vic and the interrogations, the imprisonment, the torture? His strong character, refusing to give the information? Their running over him? His survival? The injuries, hospital, the doctors, disbelief, phoning Ed, at the motel, the clerk and his treatment, wanting vengeance?
12. John, the gym, Daniel going to the bank, needing the signature from the notary? The pressure from Daniel, John signing?
13. Daniel and his taking over the house, telling lies to the family, their going, his suspicions?
14. Vic and his collapse, the hospital? Daniel and the house, the high life, neighbourhood watch, friendly with the neighbours, Adrian and the house, the new plan?
15. Meeting the porn king, at the gym, using his warehouse, the focus on the explicit gay material, the reaction of the men? Planning that he be the next target? Inviting him to Adrian’s house, the discussion about distribution, contracts, his seeing through Daniel, the confrontation, insulting him, Daniel and his temper, his killing him? The girlfriend, her being suspicious, her death? Disposing of the bodies?
16. The police, their coming to the gym, arresting John?
17. Ed, at home with his wife, retirement, wanting some action, the interest in the case, not believing Vic, tracking him down, getting him out of the hospital, taking him to the motel, pain? His going to the gym, Daniel working with him?
18. Daniel and the pursuit, discovery of the truth, going to the house, the confrontation, Ed and the arrests? The despising of the bodies, the discovery?
19. The courts, the sentences, the lenience for Paul?
20. The film allegedly based on a true story? An ironic story, parody? Dumb characters? It the focus on a very American patriotism?
