Pain & Gain
Director: Michael Bay
Screenwriter(s): Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Ed Harris, Rob Corddry, Anthony Mackie, Bar Paly, Tony Shalhoub, Rebel Wilson
Paramount Pictures
Rated R | 130 Minutes
Release Date: April 26th, 2013
Unfortunately, Michael Bay‘s latest film, Pain & Gain, doesn’t star Optimus Prime or John Turturro – but don’t let that discourage you from seeing it – let “Directed by Michael Bay” do that.
The film is based on a series of Miami New Times articles surrounding the brutal kidnapping, extortion, torture, and murder of several victims by the “Sun Gym Gang,” a group of simple-minded bodybuilders turned incompetent criminals.
Mark Wahlberg stars as Daniel Lugo, a bodybuilder who works at the Sun Gym along with his friend Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie). Sick of living the life of a personal trainer, Lugo concocts a plan to kidnap Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub), a filthy-rich businessman, and extort money from him using any means necessary.
With the help of ex-con Paul Doyle (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), the Sun Gym Gang successfully gets Kershaw to sign over his riches. But when Kershaw survives an attempted murder by the gang, he hires private investigator Ed Du Bois (Ed Harris) to catch the criminals after the Miami Police Department dismisses Kershaw’s implausible story.
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