DVD ReviewThe Marine

First there was Hulk Hogan, and then came Roddy Piper followed by The Rock. Even "Stone Cold" Steve Austin tried his hand at acting, albeit on television. Now we can add the name of John Cena to the list of professional wrestlers turned actors. With his debut film The Marine WWE Champion, John Cena, is hoping transfer his immense popularity from the squared circle to feature films.

Cena stars as John Triton, a recently discharged marine trying to transition back to a civilian lifestyle. Having some problems adapting to a more serene life, he and wife Kate, played by Kelly Carlson from Nip/Tuck fame, decide to take a road trip. It sounds ordinary enough, but they quickly run afoul when a chance meeting with a gang of jewel thieves at an off the beaten path gas station leaves Triton unconscious and his wife a hostage.

With his wife now in the hands of these desperate thieves, Triton has no choice but to track then through the swamps of South Carolina. Utilizing his marine training, Triton is able to dispatch the criminals one by one dealing with backwoods drug dealers and crooked cops along the way.

The jewel thieves are led by Rome who is played magnificently by Robert Patrick. I am sure movie fans will remember Patrick from his T-1000 days from Terminator 2: Judgment Day along with his stint as Agent John Doggett on The X-Files. Patrick is easily the most experienced actor in The Marine, and his presence definitely lends credibility to the film. Rome is psychotic, practical, and comical, and has some of the best lines of the movie.

John Cena actually does a respectable job in this role. The Marine is what it is - an action movie with a wrestler as its star. It is never going to be considered for an Oscar or gain any critical acclaim, but it's an entertaining movie. Sure it is over the top, the plot is ridiculously simple, and the action is incredibly far-fetched, but that is what makes this movie so fun to watch. It never takes itself seriously and that is why it works.

The DVD is loaded with extras. It contains both the theatrical and unrated version of the film. There is also the featurette "Declassified: The Making of the Marine" along with footage of the World Premiere shown at Camp Pendleton. There are a series of ten mini featurettes under the WWE Promotional Featurettes section. These were all shown on various WWE television programs as a way to promote The Marine leading up to its theatrical release. The best of the special bonuses are the "John Cena Features" which not only show a bio of the wrestler/actor, but also how he trained for the role of John Triton and how he spent his time in Australia where the film was shot. These featurettes really show John Cena's charisma and give a brief glimpse on why he is so popular among wrestling fans.

The Marine is simply a good old fashioned action movie. It is full of explosions and flying bullets not to mention the characters' sense of humor. This is just a fun film to watch. It is not the greatest movie and the acting is not exactly Oscar caliber, but it does take you on an entertaining ride. The DVD offers enough special features and bonuses to make it well worth the investment. The Marine is a must have for any John Cena fan or anyone looking to kill a couple of hours with some intense and humorous action.