Walking Tall: The Payback

I really liked the first of the new Walking Tall movies starring The Rock. That meant I had some expectations for this one, even though a guy I had never heard of before, Kevin Sorbo, had taken over the lead. I was very disappointed. I don't think it was Sorbo's fault, really. The problem was a total lack of action. The little action it had, wasn't anywhere near good. The movie was simply BOOOOOOORING, moreso than 95 % of the other action movies out there. I just don't get how they managed to destroy such a promising and entertaining franchise like this. I have absolutely no rush in watching the third movie after this kind of crap.

A woodenly acted unnecessary remake of a remake of a much MUCH better film, This Kevin Serbo helmed straight to DVD action film sees fit to throw every available cliché at the audience apparently in order to pummel them into submission. Sorbo plays Nick, a sheriff returning home looking for vengeance after some local thug kills his father. Why this is billed as Walking Tall 2, I haven't a clue as it has nothing to do with The Rock film and even less to do with the classic original '70's trilogy. To make matters worse the acting's more wooden then Buford Pusser's fabled 2 by 4. A sequel was shot back-to-back with this one and I can say with all confidence that i'll definitely be skipping that likely travesty. Even a huge Sorbo fan such as myself does have his limits.

My Grade: D

Actually, this movie wasn't as bad as I had expected it to be. But still, don't go and expect a grandiose masterwork of cinema history. The movie was adequately entertaining, although it was a mediocre result. But for what it was, it didn't fare that badly.

The story is about Nick (played by Kevin Sorbo) who returns to his hometown to find it terrorized by a small group of thugs, and as his father dies in a mysterious accident, Nick decides to become the new Sheriff in town and clean out the criminals.

Yep, fairly generic and simple storyline, as seen in many other similar movies. But it was still entertaining enough to watch. Was it predictable? You bet! Kevin Sorbo actually did a good job in this movie, and he does have some acting talent, just a shame that he will forever be branded as Hercules. A.J. Buckley (who played Harvey Morris - the main bad guy) was also doing a good job with his role, and he had an aura of confidence that really added to the movie.

For an action movie, though, the movie was scarce on action sequences, which did drag the overall enjoyment of the movie down. It was a shame, because a bit more action would have been warmly welcomed.

I saw an advanced screening of this movie and it definitely isn't as good as the first one with The Rock (Dwayne Johnson). The first one was a really good movie. Johnny Knoxville made the movie funny and the villain was very cool and a good actor. Not to mention The Rock, just about anything he's in is a good movie. I didn't think the sequel was going to be good but I figured it would at least be a little interesting because it's the sequel to an awesome movie. But I was disappointed. It's very boring, hardly any action, the acting definitely isn't the best, and it's really country. It's just like a long episode of Chuck Norris except, I've seen episodes of Chuck Norris that are more interesting than this movie. I wouldn't pay more than five dollars for this movie. maybe ten but i would recommend renting it before you buy it. I watched this movie out of curiosity, because i liked the first one. If you liked the first one too, then you'll be disappointed with this one and it has nothing to do with the first one so I wouldn't buy this movie if I were you unless you find it on the clearance or sales rack.

Released direct-to-video in 2007 and directed by Tripp Reed, "Walking Tall: The Payback" is a rural crime drama/thriller starring Kevin Sorbo as Nick Prescott, a man who returns to his Texas hometown where he discovers the quiet community overrun with drugs & crime and is left with no choice but to take justice into his own hands, even if it means putting on a badge. Yvette Nipar plays the Dallas FBI agent who assists him while Richard Dillard & Gail Cronauer play his parents. A.J. Buckley appears as the main villain and Dell Johnson the town deputy. Jenny Shakeshaft is also on hand as a waitress whom Nick knows in the town. Several other cast members play heavies.

This is a nominal sequel to 2004's "Walking Tall" with The Rock. The location and characters are totally different; only the plot is basically the same. While the O4 movie is the technically better production, since it was released theatrically, they're both of about the same general viewing quality. The main difference is that the plot in "The Payback" pays less attention to the drama of the small town and more on the rural mob and their elaborate schemes. Like the O4 movie, this is by-the-numbers but still worthwhile if you're in the mood for a rural crime drama/thriller.

The film runs 88 minutes and was shot in Waxahachie and Dallas, Texas.

GRADE: C+ or B- (5.5/10)