It’s easy enough to slam a film like Legendary because it’s such an easy target. Basically an after school special mentality spread thin over a slice of John Cena’s muscles. Legendary unfolds as Cena reunites with his estranged younger brother (Devon Graye), who is a classic 97-pound weakling who wants to try out for his high school wrestling team.
There must be some kind of market for this type of vehicle. In fact Legendary’s distributor, Samuel Goldwyn, released a similar themed film aimed at teen boys last year called Free Style. Legendary, as prosaic as it is, never comes off as syrupy as Free Style, yet that’s almost damning something with faint praise if ever that term was truthfully used.
Cena obviously looks like a body builder extraordinaire but the actors cast as his brother and mother (Patricia Clarkson) bear no familiar resemblance to his hulking presence. Clarkson does manage to inject some emotion into the non-drama that is Legendary. It’s almost fun watching her yell like a rabid fan during the film’s climatic wrestling match. So this is how a brilliant actress makes ends meet when she’s not doing stuff like Cairo Time. Danny Glover also pops up as a mystery man who dispenses wisdom while fishing.
Legendary opens in select Houston theaters this weekend.

- Michael Bergeron