Mark Wahlberg's Charm On Full Display in Pain & Gain Trailer
Wed, December 19, 2012 "June 17, 1995."
That title appears at the eighteen-second mark during the trailer for Michael Bay's Pain & Gain. All we've come to know Bay and his cinematic isms for were there from the start with Bad Boys. Released in 1995.
He's been in our collective conscious for seventeen years. Strange to think that, and while Bay has matured commercially-speaking, creatively he's stayed perpetually youthful. So what's really that different with his bodybuilder, crime-thriller? Besides the standard "He's doing Fargo" quip we'll hear from now till its April 2013 release, not much. It looks and sounds and, I'm sure if Jon Waters could help, smells like Bay. What is so enticing then?
Two words: Mark Wahlberg.
Everything he does here is wrong, stupid ("I watched a lot of movies, Paul. I know what I'm doing!") and will not end well, if you've read the Miami New Times articles the film is based on. The opening seconds tell you. And despite that, you're still behind him.
Like The Other Guys and Ted, it's all thanks to his sincerity. Its there on the big screen and in real life. I recall reading of his attitude to fans watching on during the filming of Ted last year. He'd walk over, shake hands and sign pictures. "Stay in school and get an education! Don't be like me! I got lucky!" he told them.
Not just me who sees it; its clear Bay does too. That's why the two will soon collaborate again on Transformers 4. I like what I see here so much I'm starting to wonder. Maybe, just maybe Wahlberg can be the guy who helps Bay to making a Transformers movie that isn't utter garbage.
Hey, I can be optimistic, as blind and unlikely as it is, can't I?
Reader Comments (2)
Lol Having optimism about a Transformers movie is a bridge to far Jamie.
Always liked Wahlberg, but he really needs to make it up to me after Contraband... Christ, that was an appalling movie!