I’ve Got Thoughts About Dwayne Johnson’s Career, And It Involves Taking Advice From The Rock

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As a dedicated fan of action-packed movies, I have always appreciated Dwayne Johnson’s larger-than-life performances. With his impressive physique and charismatic personality, he has undeniably made an impact on the silver screen. However, as someone who grew up watching wrestling legends like The Rock, I can’t help but feel that there is still more to be explored in Johnson’s acting career.

There’s no denying that Dwayne Johnson, aka, The Rock, is one of the most electrifying names in all sports entertainment, and pop culture in general. One of the greatest wrestler-turned-actors of all time, the TKO board member and future WWE Hall of Famer has been putting boots to asses and delivering box office smash hits since I was a kid (yes, I had a “Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?” t-shirt).

Over the last few years, Johnson’s big-screen appearances have been somewhat lackluster, which is surprising given his electrifying WWE stint as “The Final Boss,” one of his most thrilling phases and arguably among the greatest wrestling characters ever. This thought sparked an idea in me: what if Dwayne Johnson brought the essence of The Rock into Hollywood and introduced some variety? Let me elaborate…

I Like A Lot Of Dwayne Johnson’s Movies, But It Feels Like He’s Playing The Same Character Over And Over

Before you jump in and start yelling about me not liking Dwayne Johnson’s movies, let me tell you that I’ve seen pretty much everything he’s done and watched most of those in theaters, going all the way back to his big-screen debut in The Mummy Returns back in 2001. And it’s not just the Fast and Furious movies or Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle; I’m talking Snitch, Faster, and Doom.

However, I must admit that Johnson seems to be portraying a repetitive character in many of his roles, resembling Hulk Hogan prior to his surprising 1996 turn as a villain to create the NWO. As one might say, he’s merely delivering film versions of his catchphrases nowadays. Yet, I am confident that he is capable of more diverse performances, as demonstrated in movies like “Pain & Gain” and his villainous roles within WWE.

He Reinvented Himself As The Rock When Things Got Stale In WWE

Instead of suggesting that Dwayne Johnson should deliver a harsh “Die, Rocky, Die” style promo on the red carpet like he did during his time with the Nation of Domination, I’m pointing out that throughout his wrestling career, he has shown an impressive ability to adapt and reinvent himself when things became repetitive. His initial stint from 1996-1997 didn’t garner much success, but fans quickly turned against him, leading him to embrace the heel persona. In less than two years, he went on to become WWF Champion, holding both the People’s Champion and Corporate Champion titles.

Essentially, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) has a knack for sensing shifts in circumstances and adapting by changing direction to remain at the peak of his career. Despite his continued box office success, it might be advantageous for both his professional growth and the viewing experience if he were to explore new roles or approaches to his on-screen persona.

We All Remember How The Rock Becoming The ‘Final Boss’ Made WrestleMania 40 An Event To Remember

I know it wasn’t all that long ago, but remember how The Rock becoming the “Final Boss” persona made WrestleMania 40 an event to remember and the best “Showcase of the Immortals” in a decade and one of the greatest of all time? Man, Dwayne Johnson was firing on all cylinders when he fully committed to being a heel for the first time in over 20 years. The Rock, with his larger-than-life attitude and presence, showcased what makes WWE so great with an all-time great performance during both nights of the weekend-long event.

Regarding my previous statement – when fans expressed preference for a different matchup between The Rock and Roman Reigns, rather than allowing Cody Rhodes to complete his narrative and challenge the Tribal Chief, Dwayne Johnson and his team recognized the signs and adjusted their plans to deliver the most outrageous WrestleMania main event ever. I understand that pivoting in wrestling and pivoting in movies are two distinct concepts, but given his history of a lengthy rivalry with John Cena leading up to their “Once in a Lifetime” match at WrestleMania 28, he has the ability to make such changes.

I Would Love For Johnson To Have A ‘Final Boss’ Moment On The Big Screen And Take On More Complex And Vulnerable Characters

I understand that The Rock’s “Final Boss” character is usually not perceived as vulnerable, even during humorous scenes like the one we watched, but it would be fascinating to see Dwayne Johnson explore more intricate and sensitive roles. I’m hoping for characters where he experiences significant transformations, taking on roles that don’t always triumph or present a flawless image, especially in challenging situations with villains or at family gatherings like barbecues.

What sets Captain America, Spider-Man, Batman, and Rocky Balboa apart as cherished and adored characters is not just their ability to fight and save the day, but also their capacity to face defeats. As Thomas Wayne said in “Batman Begins”, “Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to get back up.” It seems that characters like Luke Hobbs, Black Adam, and Johnson’s other heroes lack vulnerability, always appearing as the strongest figures, which makes them foreseeable and monotonous. I believe introducing a defeat or adversity for one of these on-screen characters could create a more engaging storyline.

And Maybe His Role In A24’s The Smashing Machine Will Be That ‘Nation Of Domination’ Moment On The Big Screen

Ever since A24 announced Benny Safdie’s movie “The Smashing Machine” featuring Dwayne Johnson as UFC legend Mark Kerr, I’ve been eagerly waiting for its release. This role might serve as a turning point in Johnson’s career, allowing him to venture beyond his usual big-budget action films and explore more diverse characters. Despite his continued involvement in blockbuster projects, this shift could propel Johnson to new artistic heights.

Dwayne Johnson has several new movies coming up, including the live-action version of Moana. It’s tough to predict when, or even if, his career might take a different path. But just like The Rock consistently surprises us in the wrestling ring, be ready for the unanticipated!

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2024-12-01 17:07