Movie Review: 'The Rock' Delivers in 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'

"The Rock is, no question, a charisma machine, the uncontested heir apparent to Schwarzenegger, and when he pursues Ray Stevenson’s Firefly (whose secret weapons are exploding fireflies) in a tank, on foot and then on a boat is something of an energy surge. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of dead space between these sexy moments," writes Jordan Hoffman of ScreenCrush about "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," a follow-up to the 2009 blockbuster "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra."

In "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," according to the film's official website, the team is "not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra, but they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence." 

Here's what critics are saying:

The Rock ... makes good on his reputation, delivering some much needed weight to both the physical and emotional centres of the movie, with his fine combination of charm and brutality working effortlessly to help ground the film amongst the more high tech hokum. — Duncan Bowles, Den of Geek

... there's no real soldiering here. The movie racks up hundreds of fatalities and nary a drop of blood. These soldiers come straight off the pages of 'Maxim,' not 'Guns and Ammo.' And anyone looking for serious fare will be left wanting. Dialogue is stiff, action is relentless, and the franchise remains built for the people who play with G.I. Joe dolls: namely, fanboys and real boys. — Scott Bowles, USA Today

'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' has some trouble with tone: One minute it's wisecracks between Johnson and Tatum as they're sitting on the couch with their little Xbox joysticks, and the next, London is flattened (millions dead, presumably, though we never hear about it) by the antagonists' weapons of mass destruction. — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune 

It’s easy to complain about 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' because there’s so much to complain about. It’s easy to celebrate 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' because the last movie was so much worse. It’s a little strange to even watch 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' because every scene feels separate from the scenes around it. ... But the cast is affable, the dialogue is surprisingly witty and the action sequences are sometimes novel and exciting. I find it impossible to hate 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation,' no matter how messy it is. — William Bibbiani, CraveOnline

"G.I. Joe: Retaliation" is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of combat violence and martial arts action throughout, and for brief sensuality and language. The film runs 110 minutes.

Ready to see "G.I. Joe: Retaliation"? Head to Regal Hamilton Mill 14, 2160 Hamilton Creek Parkway. For more theater information and links to showtimes and pricing, click here or call 678-482-0624. Click here for Regal Mall of Georgia showtimes. 

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