Review: '12 Rounds 2: Reloaded', Starring Randy Orton

There can be no denying that WWE Studios has evolved significantly since its inception more than a decade ago. What began as basically a way for Vince McMahon to build Dwayne Johnson into a star by producing his first three movies, a plan which obviously worked, the studio has grown beyond making movies merely for the diehard fans who turn in for grappling action every Monday and Friday night. Ever since Johnson moved on to much bigger things, it's been one attempt after another to find another WWE star who could fill his boots as a leading man. John Cena, The Miz, Big Show, Edge, all have given it a go at one point or another with mixed results, and now the latest to stake his claim is Randy Orton in 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded.

The WWE has done a phenomenal job of branching out into Hollywood and building themselves a credible brand, but they continue to treat their most loyal followers like brain dead morons, putting their favorite superstars at the head of one awful franchise after another.  And yep, you can lump this in right along with them. Orton plays Nick Malloy, the world's most unlikely EMT ever. Not because he's covered in tattoo and looks like he was chiseled out of marble, but because of a complete lack of human emotion. The film begins with Nick and his wife Sarah (Cindy Busby) at the scene of a terrible accident. Try as he might, Nick is unable to save everyone, and one woman dies. A year later, what should have been a routine night suddenly gets very explosive as Nick is targeted by Heller (Brian Markinson), an unseen villain with an obvious chip on his shoulder.

Structured in exactly the same way as the prior film, the bad guy has come up with twelve games or "rounds" that his prey must survive. Like practically every other WWE film out there, the hero is motivated by the kidnapping of a female loved one, and in this case it's Sarah who Nick must rescue from Heller's clutches. From a hidden surveillance outpost, Heller watches Nick's every move as he races from one checkpoint to another before the clock runs out and the game ends. We're introduced to Tommy, a loser and drug addict who becomes another of Heller's targets, but we're never clued in as to why. The mystery of Heller's motivation is pretty easy to figure out, and since there isn't a whole lot that happens in the film, you have plenty of time to think about it.

At one point, Heller expresses disbelief that Nick has managed to survive so long, and it's a curious statement because the rounds aren't especially dangerous. Mostly it's about getting from point A to point B, finding an item or person, and moving on. The first film put the protagonist through the paces, such as they were, while Nick doesn't have much to contend with. So it's not especially compelling, and often is downright boring. The script is a mixed bag, showing flashes of inspiration while painting some extremely thin characters. The only thing we know about Nick is that he may or may not have had a checkered past, and that he's more than willing to beat people up if necessary. Themes of legal and political injustice bubble under the surface, and prove to be a driving force behind Heller's actions, but this isn't a story that can support ideas like that for very long, so the screenwriter never really tries.

Technical proficiency does prove to be the film's strong suit, thanks to competent direction by Roel Reine. Reine has really settled into his role as the go-to director for straight-to-DVD action franchises, leading The ScorpionKing 3, The Marine 2, and basically taking over the Death Race films. Nobody is going to call him an auteur, but he knows how to stage an action scene and play up to his lead actor's strengths. Considering most of his leading men are athletes and models with little acting experience (or talent), this means showing off their physical attributes. Orton....well, let's be frank. He can't act. Period. Or at the very least, he can't act beyond his regular portrayals on WWE TV.  What made Dwayne Johnson a superstar was that he has a natural presence. He's a larger-than-life figure in the ring and out. Orton is more rehearsed, and he seems to fall back on playing the cold, quietly intense character he's comfortable with. That's not what this role calls for, though, and every time Orton tries to be likable it comes off as unnatural. Markinson is actually pretty good as Heller, playing a desperate man whose morals have become twisted by grief.

12 Rounds 2: Reloaded is definitely a step up from the Cena-led film from 2009, but that's like saying you'd rather get kicked in the gut than kicked in the head. It's probably best to just avoid both.