‘Walking Tall’ short on plot

PEGGY J. ROGERS

“Walking Tall” is a hot-headed person’s idea of revenge. When someone

or something angers you, get in touch with your rage and club them

with a two-by-four. That’s exactly what Chris Vaughn (the Rock) does

when he returns from fighting overseas and sees his peaceful small

town changed for the worse because of drugs and gambling.

No one tried stopping the largest business owner from opening a

casino -- not even his family. But now that Chris is back, everyone

is more than happy to let him risk his life to fix the problems.

Chris isn’t the brightest bulb on the block, because the first thing

he does to shut down the casino is smash up the place with his

two-by-four. Then it cuts to the courtroom where Chris is on trial

for destruction of property and assault with a deadly weapon.

Problems in movies never have an easy solution or a quick remedy, and

things get even worse for Chris before they can get better.

Although “Walking Tall” takes place in the present, it plays like

an old-fashioned western, with Chris, the fearless hero who fixes to

have a showdown with the town’s bully, a childhood friend. The bully

never expects to have a showdown with Chris, because rich bullies

always hire other people to fight their fights, which always take

place during the second act. “Walking Tall” thrives on being a

predictable film.

The characters are also predictable. The ex-girlfriend, who became

a pole dancer at the casino, looks to mend her ways now that Chris is

back in town swinging the biggest stick. She’s a tramp and the girl

next door rolled into one. And then there’s the hero, played by the

Rock. He’s big, good looking and everyone’s first choice to be on

their team. The Rock looks like a hero, even when he doesn’t act like

it, and fights as dirty as the bad guys. He’s a hero because it isn’t

about being right or wrong, good or bad; it’s about being the last

one standing at the end of the day.

“Walking Tall” is long on swagger and short on plot, character

development and original action scenes. Similar story lines have been

done before, and far better, but if hokey shoot ‘em ups grab and hold

your interest, or if you’re a fan of the Rock, then you’ll have a

good run for your money and can walk tall into and out of the movie

theater.

* PEGGY J. ROGERS, 40, produces commercial videos and

documentaries.