12 ROUNDS **
This film was not screened in advance for American critics. Here are excerpts from a review that appeared in the Herald Sun of Victoria, Australia.
A big, dumb lug of an action movie, “12 Rounds” is fronted by a big, dumb lug named John Cena.
Acting is no friend of this professional wrestling icon. Even when he is making polite chitchat, WWE star Cena sounds pained.
The brickish bulk of John Cena also counts against him when not running, jumping, tumbling or thumping. Leave him for too long in a scene where he must stand near other cast members, and Cena looks like a Hummer parked beside a row of shopping carts.
Cena plays Danny, a lowly street cop who somehow captures an international crime lord while out on nightly patrol. Miles (Aiden Gillen), who is also a psycho, is upset his girlfriend died while Danny made the fateful arrest.
Miles slips out of the slammer, abducts Danny’s girlfriend and sets about turning the tables. Miles gives Danny a day in which to complete a dozen physical and tactical feats of strength. Should Danny bungle any of them, his girlfriend dies.
It’s all fairly basic rough stuff for the main in “12 Rounds,” apart from one cracking stunt sequence staged aboard a runaway tram.
Running time: 108 minutes. Rated PG-13 (intense violence). At the Empire, the 64th and Second, the Battery Park City, others.