Time: 129 Minutes
Age Rating: R18 – Violence, offensive language, drug use & sex scenes
Cast:
Mark Wahlberg as Daniel Lugo
Dwayne Johnson as Paul Doyle
Anthony Mackie as Adrian ‘Noel’ Doorbal
Tony Shalhoub as Victor Kershaw
Ed Harris as Detective Ed Du Bois, III
Director: Michael Bay

I heard about this movie and had been meaning to watch it for some time. I knew that it starred Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson and was a different movie for Michael Bay, with it being based on a real life crime story and being less action focussed. All things considering, I actually think that this is one of his best.

Pain & Gain is based on a true story in the 1990s, which involved kidnapping, murder and torture. One could question the intent of this movie especially when they handle it in such an absurd and over the top dark comedy. But at the very least, it’s clear that it doesn’t sympathize with its central criminals (much like The Wolf of Wall Street, which came out the same year). You can clearly tell that you aren’t meant to be rooting for the trio of central criminals, pretty much every character aside from Ed Harris is an unlikable person in some way. Despite this, you are still invested in this weird crime story, and seeing the main characters’ rise and fall. It also creates a bizarre and satirical version of the American Dream. It is a dark comedy and is hilarious as such, entertaining despite it being based on a real life crime. It is bonkers, ridiculous and wild and almost making fun of itself at times. While many people have criticised Bay for his humour (mainly in his Transformers movies), this movie leans more on the more dark and depraved route that the jokes have a different feeling this time.

Mark Wahlberg gives one of the best performances I’ve seen from him, he fits his role very well and gives a wonderfully deranged performance. Anthony Mackie is also really good. However, between the three leads, its Dwayne Johnson who stands out the most in one of his best performances, he is hilarious, charming and great here. The rest of the cast are also solid, including Tony Shalhoub and Ed Harris.

Michael Bay’s very distinct aesthetic is perfect for this movie. Pain and Gain is very much filled with Bay’s typical directing trademarks and it works. It is very stylistic and so vibrant with fantastic visuals, and the editing is top notch. It also benefits from a great score from Steve Jablonsky.

Pain & Gain is an absurd, entertaining, satirical and darkly funny crime comedy, with great performances and stylised direction. Very likely Michael Bay’s best.