As a film critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen some truly cringe-worthy movies, but few have left me as disappointed as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s cinematic misadventures. Now, don’t get me wrong; I adore The Rock. He’s a one-man entertainment powerhouse who can charm the pants off an audience with his charisma and wit. But even he can’t save some of these disasters.
As a die-hard fan, I’d say Dwayne Johnson has made a remarkable impact in Tinseltown, carving out a substantial space for himself. Not every movie he chooses turns out to be a box office smash hit. However, from family-friendly films like “Moana,” action-packed movies such as “The Rundown” and the “Fast and Furious” series, to offbeat picks like “Southland Tales,” he’s demonstrated his acting skills and crowd-pulling ability. Beyond the iconic eyebrow raise or catchphrase shout, Johnson can deliver a compelling performance that goes beyond the surface. If John Cena is the wrestler-turned-actor known for his comedic prowess and Dave Bautista is gradually becoming a versatile character actor, then Johnson has proven to be a crowd-pleasing, adaptable action star who excels in various genres as well.
Nothing, however, will protect even the cleverest of actors from falling afoul of a bad selection. In this case, Johnson has starred in a few clunkers during his time on the big screen. Whether he’s playing a mean hockey player, a warrior king, a superhero, or a lifeguard, not even his charm, sense of humor, and cocky spirit could save these movies from total cultural oblivion. Come with us as we layeth the smackdown upon the very worst of Dwayne Johnson’s work. And in this case, you might wish you couldn’t smell what he’s cooking.
5: Tooth Fairy
Over time, Dwayne Johnson has successfully established himself in the family film genre; for instance, “The Game Plan” remains delightful even today, and both “Jungle Cruise” and the “Jumanji” series showcase his ability to captivate audiences of various age groups. However, it’s puzzling why “The Tooth Fairy,” a children’s movie, portrayed Johnson as an unpleasant figure and offered a tired and unoriginal storyline that fell flat, failing to meet expectations.
The narrative revolves around Derek Thompson, often referred to as “The Tooth Fairy” due to his habit of knocking out opponents’ teeth during hockey games. However, his unkind nature eventually catches up with him when he hurts a young hockey enthusiast’s feelings. Consequently, he is given an unusual punishment: serving as a tooth fairy and making amends for his actions. Despite being unfamiliar with the role, Derek eventually discovers a sense of meaning and love in this unexpected adventure.
The outcome is remarkably similar to Hulk Hogan’s “Mr. Nanny,” which relied heavily on a single joke involving a rough guy in feminine attire. It also recycled old family movie tropes about a harsh individual softening and protagonists achieving triumph after effort. Despite its box office success and the subsequent sequel featuring Larry the Cable Guy, “Tooth Fairy” has not been well-received by critics or audiences since its premiere. On IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, it sits at the bottom of Johnson’s filmography.
4: The Scorpion King
It’s important to note that Dwayne Johnson was relatively new to acting when he played “The Scorpion King.” As a novice actor, his performance was rather stiff. Unfortunately, this rigidity didn’t enhance the movie. Additionally, the script had a similar feel to “Conan: The Barbarian,” and like milk left out in the desert heat, it aged poorly.
In “The Mummy Returns,” though Mathayus (Johnson) may appear as an adversary, he’s the main character in this particular story. The movie narrates his journey from obscurity to the leadership of the local tribe alliance, achieved by vanquishing unadulterated evil. With courage, magic, and resilience, Mathayus ascends to become a king—a role that history tells us doesn’t end well for him.
The “Mummy” series might have revolutionized action films, but its influence on “The Scorpion King” and its box office triumph didn’t ensure lasting cultural impact. Instead, much like other WWE Productions, it’s largely vanished from public consciousness, receiving criticism along the way. It’s not one of Johnson’s finest acting moments or his most captivating action series. The “Scorpion King” franchise produced several direct-to-DVD sequels, none featuring Johnson, which only added to the film’s tarnished reputation. Despite the actor’s intentions to revive the franchise, perhaps it’s best to let the tale of Mathayus rest in the sands of history.
3: Black Adam
Making a successful movie for a character like Black Adam is challenging when only a small aspect of his original greatness is highlighted in the narrative. Originally, Black Adam was primarily associated with Shazam as his main adversary, but in this film, he confronts the Justice Society instead. Dwayne Johnson took on production duties to ensure that his childhood hero would serve as Superman’s (Henry Cavill) primary antagonist. Unfortunately, this decision contributed to the ongoing decline of the DC Extended Universe by further undermining its cohesion and continuity.
In simpler terms, Johnathan “Teth-Adam” is an ex-slave with supernatural abilities granted by several Egyptian deities. He’s been put in a state of suspended animation and brought back to life with a mystical spell in the present day. However, Amanda Waller views him as dangerous. Despite this perception, there are more harmful individuals roaming freely, such as the Intergang criminal network and Ishmael Gregor, the last living relative of the king who imprisoned Adam and massacred his family. Consequently, Adam embarks on a destructive journey to rescue the son of the woman who awakened him from his ancient sleep.
Despite any post-release debates and its potential placement in the box office flop gallery, “Black Adam” fails to captivate audiences due to its inconsistency in portraying its primary character as either a full-fledged hero or villain. While gray-area characters often keep viewers engaged, Black Adam lacks uniqueness and fails to make an impact as either a hero or a villain. Unfortunately, when the DC Universe is rebooted in 2025, it’s unlikely that Black Adam will be included – and there’s a compelling explanation for this decision.
2: Baywatch
The popular TV series from the ’90s, “Baywatch”, seemed like an easy target for success considering the abundance of cheesy fun it could have offered. However, it disappointingly missed the mark, offering outdated humor instead. It failed to capitalize on Dwayne Johnson’s charisma and Zac Efron’s appeal, which might be its gravest mistake.
In a fair assessment of the film, it doesn’t strive for grandeur or venture too far from typical “Baywatch” fare. The character of Johnson’s Mitch Buchannon remains central as he takes on the task of training four fresh lifeguards, including the rebellious Matt Brody, portrayed by Efron. A new drug threatens the beach, and Mitch and his team are duty-bound to apprehend the culprits. The question remains: will they succeed in saving the day?
The movie “Baywatch” might have covered its production costs and has a playful tone, but unfortunately, the humor isn’t as enjoyable as it could be. The show that inspired it is a large, sun-soaked, bronzed icon, yet its film adaptation fails to capitalize on this potential. The original “Baywatch” featured a crossover with “Gilligan’s Island” and an episode where a character was reborn as a dog. It’s puzzling why the humor often falls flat and the references seem so unimaginative and predictable in this revival. In summary, it’s disappointing.
1: Doom
As a long-time fan of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s action movies, I was quite disappointed with the film “Doom.” Having grown up playing the popular video game of the same name, I eagerly anticipated an exciting adaptation that would bring the blood-and-guts action to life on the big screen. However, what I got instead was a blatant rip-off of the classic sci-fi thriller “Alien,” leaving me feeling let down and less than enthused about the film’s lackluster thrills.
In a paraphrased version, Johnson portrays Sarge, who is part of a team of eight space marines dispatched to explore an urgent signal sent from a Mars research facility. It seems the source of the signal is extraterrestrial creatures, but they turn out to be mutated humans instead. This leads Sarge into a struggle where he’s trying to escape by firing back. Standing against him is John Grimm (Karl Urban), who shows more compassion. However, the extent of human involvement is startling, and the number of marines returning safely is dishearteningly low.
The film adaptation of “Doom” received harsh criticism from critics, while fans felt it disrespected the game’s gruesome, violent roots. The movie garnered Johnson his first Razzie nomination and didn’t make much impact at the box office. It seemed to jeopardize his chances of leading a film. Even Johnson himself acknowledged that it served as a lesson on what not to do when transforming a video game. However, determination and improved scripts ultimately steered his career away from the Smackdown Hotel and into a more productive direction instead.
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2024-08-19 15:00