Walking Tall (2004) * * *

 

Directed by:  Kevin Bray

Starring:  Dwayne Johnson, Neal McDonough, Johnny Knoxville, Ashley Scott, Michael Bowen, John Beasley

Walking Tall is a simple story told previously in the 1970's Walking Tall series in which Joe Don Baker played wooden club-toting Sheriff Buford Pusser, who in real life cleaned up corruption in a small Southern town many years ago.   In this version of Walking Tall, Dwayne Johnson (who then was still going by his wrestling moniker "The Rock") plays Chris Vaughn, a Special Forces veteran returning to his hometown after eight years to find the local mill has closed and a sleazy casino has opened and serves as the main employer and drug distributor for the town.   

Chris' onetime friend Jay Hamilton (McDonough) is the guy who runs the casino and manufactures the drugs sold in the casino.   Before Chris knows any of this, he plays against Jay in a, ahem, friendly game of football.   Soon, Chris and Jay become enemies after Chris smashes up the casino and Jay's thugs with an oak club after Chris' nephew overdoses on drug sold there.   Chris is tried, found not guilty, and displaces the current corrupt sheriff (Bowen) in the next election.   Chris hires his longtime buddy Ray (Knoxville) as his deputy and goes on a mission to destroy Jay and the casino.

Walking Tall wasn't made with complexities in mind.  It is an action picture with Johnson, sturdy as the club he wields, as its hero.   McDonough's Jay is as corrupt and amoral as Johnson is strong, determined, and just.   He attempts to lure Chris into working for him, but no dice.   The only suspense Walking Tall offers is how badly Chris will kick his ass in their final showdown.   A local stripper (Scott) who at first works for Jay but then leaves her job, is Chris' love interest, who in a movie like this exists to be endangered by the villains and have a steamy sex scene with Chris in his office.   Well, as steamy as a PG-13 movie can allow.   

All I can say about Walking Tall is that it's a typical genre movie done well which furthered Johnson's career as not only a bankable action star, but the biggest movie star on the planet.   It's a ninety-minute movie you with which you can satisfactorily munch your popcorn or snacks.