Watch Walking Tall
- PG-13
- 2004
- 1 hr 26 min
-
6.3 (110,510)
Walking Tall is a 2004 action movie that features Dwayne Johnson as Chris Vaughn, a former soldier who returns home after serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Upon his return, Chris discovers that his hometown has been overrun by criminal elements, and the corrupt sheriff and his cohorts are the source of the problem. Despite efforts to escalate the issue up the legal system, Chris quickly realizes that he must take matters into his own hands to clean up the town.
The movie begins with Chris returning to his hometown, where he finds that the once-thriving mills have closed, and the jobless workers have turned to drugs and other illegal activities to make ends meet. A group of casino owners has also set up shop in town, led by the vicious Jay Hamilton (played by Neal McDonough). Jay is the primary antagonist in the film and has been buying off the local officials to ensure that his illegal gambling ring runs smoothly.
Chris's attempts to bring the criminal elements to justice fall on deaf ears, and he quickly realizes that the corruption runs deep in the town's administration. Chris's childhood friend Ray Templeton (played by Johnny Knoxville) is the owner of a strip joint that has been taken over by the casino owners.
In an attempt to keep his livelihood, Ray allows the casino owners to distribute drugs in his establishment. Chris and Ray go way back, and the dynamic between the two provides for moments of humor in an otherwise intense action film. Ray is a character who is easy to root for, and his misadventures add some levity to an otherwise serious film.
Determined to make a difference, Chris decides to run for sheriff of the town, hoping to bring transparency to the administration and clean up the town. Upon winning the election, Chris starts to make sweeping changes, which include shutting down the illegal gambling establishment, banning drug use, and implementing rigorous drug testing measures to ensure that the deputies and other officials are up to the task.
As Chris wages his war against the criminal element in his town, he quickly becomes the object of many enemies' ire. These enemies range from the dealers who see their revenue streams drying up to the corrupt officials who fear being exposed. Chris is a formidable fighter who is not afraid to get his hands dirty.
Throughout the movie, Dwayne Johnson owns the screen, delivering an exceptional performance, portraying Chris as a man with a purpose, unafraid of taking on anyone who stands in his way. He brings a level of believability to the role that makes the audience root for him.
A subplot of the movie involves Chris's relationship with his high school sweetheart, Deni (played by Ashley Scott). Deni is the bartender at Ray's establishment and is initially hesitant to rekindle her romance with Chris. However, as he continues to fight the good fight, Deni comes around, and the two rekindle their romance.
Walking Tall is a thrilling action movie with a solid storyline and a strong message at its core. The movie is directed by Kevin Bray and produced by Ash R. Shah and Neal H. Moritz. The cinematography is top-notch, and the soundtrack complements the movie's intense action sequences perfectly.
Overall, Walking Tall is a movie that is well worth watching. It's packed with adrenaline-pumping action scenes, an engaging storyline, and memorable performances by a talented cast. This movie serves as a perfect showcase for Dwayne Johnson's screen presence and talent, and it's undoubtedly an action movie that leaves a lasting impression.
Walking Tall is a 2004 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 44.