At a Glance

WALKING TALL, a remake based on the popular series of 1970s films by the same title, is all about The Rock. He is larger than life, buff, beautiful, and mad as hell--ready to fight a wave of corruption, gambling, and drugs that have infiltrated his hometown. He plays Chris Vaughn, a man who is returning to his family in Tennessee after serving in the military. But right off the bat, he can tell something is fishy. The lumber mill has closed down and now there are kids on the streets doing drugs. Chris confronts his high-school rival Jay (Neal McDonough), who replaced the honest lumber business with a highly illegal casino, and is almost killed for doing so. Chris reports Jay's dirty business to the cops, only to learn that even the sheriff is on Jay's payroll. The final straw comes when Chris' nephew overdoses on crystal meth bought at the casino, and Chris decides take Jay down vigilante-style, breaking all the rules and fighting for what is right. Massive brawls with The Rock at their center, toting a large 2 x 4 as his only weapon, provide for some highly destructive, very violent face-offs. Ray (Johnny Knoxville) stands by Chris' side, providing comic relief throughout the relentless fighting, and the blond and bronzed Kristen Wilson provides some risque allure as Chris' love interest. WALKING TALL offers a little something for any fan of The Rock.