Themes: Daring Rescues, Kidnapping, Home From the War
Main Cast: John Cena, Robert Patrick, Anthony Ray Carlson, Kelly Carlson, Abigail Bianca, Anthony Ray Parker, Jerome Ehlers
Release Year: 2006
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
WWE Smackdown star and self-proclaimed "Doctor of Thuganomics" John Cena makes his explosive action feature debut as John Triton, an injured U.S. Marine who returns home from duty after violating a commander's order, only to have his wife kidnapped by a ruthless criminal. Robert Patrick co-stars as the villainous Rome -- who is more than willing to kill if it means staying one step ahead of the law -- and Nip/Tuck star Kelly Carlson appears as the endangered object of the vengeful veteran's affections. With nothing left to lose and enough training to take down a small army, the hard-fighting Triton sets out to rescue his wife, and ensure that the psychotic Rome receives a painful taste of Semper Fi justice. Commercial veteran John Bonito takes the rein for his feature directorial debut. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Review
Picture a runaway semi truck barreling through a warehouse at the edge of a pier with not one, not two, but six rows of explosive gas tanks between it and the water, and only then will one begin to get into the mindset of the WWE throwback action flick The Marine. This kind of blatant homage rarely works, though somehow this sucker finds a way. While the editing has gotten choppier and the effects more expensive, the action on display here sincerely tries to tap into the same big dumb action fun mode that populated 1980s cinema -- and that's a good thing. If John Cena's character was just a bit more over the top and utilized a few juicy one-liners instead of tough-guy frowns, then this could have been a grand-slam tribute to the cheese-ball entertainment of yore. As it stands, The Marine is still a wild ride filled with laughable characters, corny dialogue, and a sea of endless explosions. In fact, so many set pieces are incinerated that when a meth lab jerks its nosy head in the middle of the film, it's almost a letdown that it isn't left in fiery ruins after the Marine gets through with it. As far as Cena goes, his performance is leaps and bounds better than his fellow wrestler Kane's was in the WWE's other production the same year, See No Evil, although there really isn't much for him to do other than yell, run, choke-slam, shoot guns, and jump away from explosions. In the other end of the cinematic ring, Robert Patrick infuses his delicious villain role with glee as he maniacally chews up one scene after another with his smooth delivery and icy glares, which only makes his awkward scenes of straight comedy that pop up whenever the score turns into a Bugs Bunny cartoon even more pathetic and unintentionally funny. Thankfully, the PG-13 pic is devoid of any recruitment mumbo-jumbo, even if it is pro-cable TV and most definitely anti-drug -- as one character repeatedly points out in his "I hate rock candy!" tirades throughout this thoroughly silly, yet explosively entertaining motion picture. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Manu Bennett - Bennett; Damon Gibson - Vescera; Drew Powell - Joe; Frank Carlopio - Frank; Firass Dirani - Al Qaeda Leader; Remi Broadway - Marine #1; Steve Harman - Marine #2; Damien Bryson - Marine #3; Robert Coleby - Braun; Ashley Lyons - Chris; Jeff Chase - Billy; Jamal Duff - Paul; Lincoln Kennedy - Lincoln Kennedy; Christina Lindley - Chop Shop Girl; Gerry Day - Mr. Titizian; Todd Leigh - Brian; Alan B. McElroy - Johnny; Todd Levi - Officer Herrera; Christopher Morris - Rick; Jane Eppell - Laura; Lawrence Breuls - Fran; Corey Parker Robinson - Officer Brady; Peter Lamb - Patrol Officer; Damien Garvey - River Boat Cop; Helen Howard - Female Clerk #1; Nicci Hope - Female Clerk #2; Joe Cappelletti; Lynn Evans; Jack Hannibal; Daston Kalili; Joey Nabor; Jentler Phoenix; Jacqueline Pinol; Philece Sampler
Credit
Daryl Porter - Art Director, Frank Carlopio - Associate Producer, Rod Conder - Boom Operator, Tom McSweeney - Casting, Maura Fay & Associates - Casting, Donna Rosenstein - Casting, Don Davis - Conductor, Jed Blaugrund - Co-producer, Graham Purcell - Costume Designer, Stuart Wood - First Assistant Director, John Bonito - Director, Conrad Palmisano - Second Unit Director, Dallas Puett - Editor, Vince McMahon - Executive Producer, Matt Carroll - Executive Producer, Maree McDonald - Hair Styles, Anita Morgan - Hair Styles, Michelle Ritchi - Hair Styles, Jamie McLennan - Location Manager, Don Davis - Composer (Music Score), Randy Gerston - Musical Direction/Supervision, Henry Pierce - Camera Operator, Henry Gilbert - Camera Operator, Herbert Pinter - Production Designer, Charles Breen - Production Designer, David Eggby - Cinematographer, Joel Simon - Producer, Jonathan A. Winfrey - Producer, Kathryn Sommer Parry - Producer, Leo Gomez - Recording, Peter Luczak - Recording, Henry Yekanians - Recording, Martin Ash - Set Designer, Klaus Kastberg - Set Designer, Yasca Sinigaglia - Stunts, Wilfred Woodrow - Stunts, Nick Lawson - Stunts, Bradd Buckley - Stunts, Kyle Gardiner - Stunts, Nicole Downes - Stunts, Mick Van Moorsel - Stunts, Andrew Allan Keir - Stunts, Beck Con Berkiris - Stunts, Janine Carlin - Stunts, Gavin Coleman - Stunts, Hayden Dalton - Stunts, Russell Frost - Stunts, Steve Morris - Stunts, Chris Anderson - Stunts Coordinator, Jannette Stott - Stunts Coordinator, Brian Cox - Special Effects Supervisor, Jennifer Cornwell - Unit Production Manager, Michell Gallagher - Screen Story, Alan B. McElroy - Screenwriter, Michell Gallagher - Screenwriter, John Stokes - Second Unit Director Of Photography, Hannah Byrnand - Production Assistant, Jason Rowling - Production Assistant, Rebecca Johnson - Production Assistant, Danny Rizk - Production Assistant, Nino Gaetano Martinetti - Second Unit Camera, Andrew Conder - Second Unit Camera, Tim McGahan - Second Unit Camera, Dave Morlely - Visual Effects Supervisor, Dan Cox - Matte Artist, Fiona Searson - Unit Publicist, Elisa Esteban - CGI Effects, Damon Milman - CGI Effects, Craig Stevenson - CGI Effects, Bruce Shapiro - Dialogue Coach, John Bonito - Dialogue Coach, David Elmes - First Assistant Camera, Ricky Schamburg - First Assistant Camera, Matthew Slattery - Gaffer, George Caramanlis - Grip, Graham Litchfield - Key Grip, Simon Klaebe - Post Production Supervisor, Barbara Scooter Ostrowiecki - Post Production Supervisor, Kerry Mulgrew - Production Coordinator, Mark Brims - Properties Master, Karen Mansfield - Script Supervisor, Angella McPherson - Second Assistant Director, Darren Frank - Special Effects Assistant, Mitchell Cox - Special Effects Assistant, Henry Gilbert - Steadicam Operator, Simon Christidis - Underwater Photography, Kent Boswell - Visual Effects Producer, Martin Wiseman - Visual Effects Producer, Jim Millet - Assistant Art Director, Nick Smith - Assistant Location Manager, Cindy Gollagher - Assistant Production Coordinator, Simon Cooke - Best Boy Grip, Allyson Bosch - Casting Associate, Dawn Douglas-Bill - Costumes Supervisor, Jason McPhee - Dolly Grip, Eddie Sims - Electrician, Boo Slattery - Electrician, Fiona McMaster - Extra Casting, Julie Wibberley - First Assistant Accountant, Kate Baird - First Assistant Editor, Margaret Stevenson - Key Hairstylist, Margaret Stevenson - Key Make-up, Holly Smith - Personal Assistant, Richie Lowell - Personal Assistant, Sharyn Steele - Personal Assistant, Marianne Flynn - Production Accountant, Robert Lee - Production Accountant, Robert Bull - Scenic Artist, Justin Brace - Second Assistant Accountant, Cameron Morley - Second Assistant Camera, Phil Laverty - Second Assistant Camera, Mandy Jacobs - Second Assistant Editor, Geoff Lamb - Second Assistant Editor, Nick McKinnon - Second Second Assistant Director, Julie Burton - Second Unit Assistant Director, Peter Fitzgerald - Second Unit Assistant Director, Sue Kelly-Tait - Second Unit Makeup, Gail Kane - Second Unit Makeup, Graeme Callander - Storyboard Artist, Ian Clark - Transportation Captain, Damian Eggins - Transportation Coordinator, Mandy Willaton - Set Decorator, Nicole Miller - Cable Person, Kristia Kielland - Construction Foreman, Joylene Bice - Craft Service/Catering, Eleets Catering - Craft Service/Catering, Jasmin Lyford - Production Secretary, Paul "Salty" Brincat - Production Sound Mixer, John Neal - Special Effects Technician, John Bennett - Special Effects Technician, Julian Summers - Special Effects Technician, Pieter Plooy - Special Effects Technician, Steve Szekeres - Special Effects Technician, Aaron Cox - Special Effects Technician, Herman Bron - Special Effects Technician, Patrick Carmiggelt - Special Effects Technician, Robert Charlton - Special Effects Technician, Ian Kath - Special Effects Technician, Jim Leng - Special Effects Technician, Jeff Little - Special Effects Technician, Brian Osmond - Special Effects Technician, Albert Payne - Special Effects Technician, Walter Van Veenedaal - Special Effects Technician, Kent Willis - Special Effects Technician, Tim Hughes - Third Assistant Director, Paul Booth - Visual Effects Editor, Pru Bryant-Fenn - Graphic Design, Blu Murray - Assistant Editor, John Anderson - Standby Properties, Andrew Duncan - Carpenter, Jon Stiles - Carpenter, Ron Gordon - Carpenter, Allan Wilson - Carpenter, Mark Nettleton - Compositor, Angus Cameron - Compositor, Shelly Morrow - Compositor, Simon Dye - Compositor, Matt Greig - Compositor, Loren Robinson - Compositor, Daniel Sunwoo - Compositor, Randy Vellacott - Compositor, Jason Billington - Compositor, Howard Hill - Compositor, Jamie Wood - Compositor, Koji Yamaguchi - Compositor, Alicia Aguilera - Compositor, Tate Arbon - Compositor, Dominic Bean - Compositor, Baris Caglar - Compositor, Richard Hall - Compositor, Kim Worrall - Compositor, Brad Dunn - Compositor, Michelle Hunt - Compositor, Matthew North - Compositor, Takahiro Suzuki - Compositor, Tony Cole - Lead Compositor
