Violence as a sport (Never Back Down (DVD))

Member Name: Ailran

Product:	Never Back Down (DVD)
Date:	17/08/09 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good looking cast, one of the most interesting bad guys, good fight scenes

Disadvantages: Too many good looking cast members, all a bit flashy

Never Back down is, more or less, a modern re-imaging of the 80's classic Karate Kid, but with a flashier look, better looking (and lots more) actors and actresses, all of whom like to show off their bodies in swimwear as much as they possibly can.

Never Back Down is all about MMA (mixed martial arts) and the way that a group of school tough guys using what they know of the sport to create their own fights and matches at the school.
Local MMA champion Ryan McCarthy (Cam Gigandet),in a novel turn, isn't actually the school bully. He is just a boy who enjoys fighting and causing pain. Yes he isn't the nicest guy around but he wasn't the stereotypical go round school beating up others and terrorising the younger weaker kids.

Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) on the other hand is an athlete. A top quality high school running back whose future would be very bright if it wasn't for his hair trigger temper. His younger brother is also talented and has got into a top tennis school in Orlando. Jake and his mother are moving there so that the dream of being a top tennis pro and going to Wimbledon has a better chance of being achieved.

On his first day at the new school Jake meets Baja (Amber Heard) and gets himself invited to a big party, little knowing that she is only inviting him at the behest of Ryan, her boyfriend, who has seen a youtube video of Jake's last loss of temper brawl on the football, American style, pitch. Ryan wants to challenge Jake to a fight.
Jakes quick temper means that the fight takes place and doesn't last long. He is badly beaten by Ryan.
Humiliated and angry Jake decides that he will learn how to fight properly... question is will his quick temper help or hinder him in his attempt to become a more disciplined fighter?

Never Back Down is nowhere near as good a movie as The Karate Kid, but then maybe that is due to fond memories rather than actual fact. NBD is a product of its generation, as much as Karate Kid was in its own time.
NBD isn't the greatest film you'll ever see, though Dijmon Hounsou adds a much needed touch of class to the whole proceedings as Jean Roque, the ex-fighter now running a training school for MMA fighters, but then it really doesn't even try to be.
It does exactly what you would expect it to from the trailer and poster and does it in a superficial, flashy, modern
If you are a teenager, or in your early twenties, this would probably impress you but if you are not then it probably will not. It's good but like a heavy night on the town it will vanish from your memory very quickly, leaving you uncertain about certain events that occurred.

The one big thing that lets Never Back Down down, so to speak, is its reliance on flashness and looking good. The parties are full of good looking males and females with nary an alternative looking teenager around, apart from one concession to this in the slightly chubby looking boy who 'adopts' Jake as his hero and then introduces him to Roque. This school in Orlando is obviously set in the same universe as The O.C. and other such TV programmes, where everyone is not only stunning to look at physically but also seem to have the money to buy the best clothes available.
The slightly off the mainstream edges that do appear are quickly glossed over and left to hang, never to be seen again. Sadly this includes a scene where Ryan is at home with some friends and has a little disagreement with his father. This one little snippet adds another dimension to the character that could have made for an intriguing character development, presumably this idea was cut from the film, apart from this one little bit, as it would move the story away from its main focus. Sensible in a sense but a big shame because of the potential this would have had of moving it away from the clichéd story we see so often... that of revenge and the big MMA fight competition that is looming in the background through most of the film.

Recommended? Not really, it is a fun divergence from more serious films but it isn't really a great film by itself, of course on the other hand it could be said that if you watch this then you know what you are going to see and it does do a superb job of supplying what you want.

Summary: Boy learns mixed martial arts to fight back at school