Never Back Down

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Sean Ferris and Djimon Honsou in "Never Back Down"
courtesy of Summit Entertainment

"Never Back Down" (Summit Entertainment)

Brawling 101

The new film "Never Back Down" takes place in Orlando, Florida. It shows that in addition to being the land of Disney World and other theme parks, this also appears to be one of the most violent communities in America. Per the movie, the high school students have a new class in their curriculum and it is "Brawling 101." It makes for an exciting movie but it does make you stop and wonder what is happening to your child at school.

Jake Tyler (Sean Ferris) and his family have moved to Orlando so that his younger brother Charlie (Wyatt Smith) can attend a prestigious tennis school. Jake is a senior and feels like an outsider when he starts school. Thanks to cell phones and their cameras, as well as YouTube and its instant fame, Jake is a celebrity of sorts because his fighting ways at his previous high school have been broadcast on these select facilities.

One of the first people Jake meets is Max Cooperman (Evan Peters) who is into "Mixed Martial Arts," a fighting competition that features two opponents beating each other silly. Also involved in this "sport" is a guy named Ryan (Cam Gigandet) who is not only talented in the "sport" but
also vicious.

Ryan has it in for Jake from the start and everyone knows a battle between them is brewing. Jake starts training with Jean Roqua (Djimon Honsou) who does not tolerate fighting outside the gym. Jake learns everything he can but knows someday the fight between him and Ryan is coming.

The film is interesting but its underlying theme is a little depressing. Watching people beat their opponents silly is not high drama. Ferris is an appealing leading man while Gigandet is a totally repulsive villain. Honsou is always compelling on screen. Amber Heard is bland as the female lead.

The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.

If you like action in your movies of the more violent nature then "Never Back Down" might be your perfect outing for the week. For those who are put off by casual violence then this is a movie to avoid. There doesn't seem to be a moral to the mayhem and when all is said and done things remain pretty much the same. Life goes on at the high school and no real lessons have been learned.

I scored "Never Back Down" a brawling 5 out of 10.

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