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Never Back Down

A Karate Kid ripoff

By MARK BAZER | March 12, 2008

1.5 Stars

Never Back Down

A ripoff of The Karate Kid, director Jeff Wadlow’s Never Back Down differs in one crucial respect: instead of karate, the top activity at high schools these days seems to be beating the shit out of each other. Jake (Sean Faris), a high-school football player from Ohio, moves to decadent Florida after his dad kills himself driving drunk. Jake has father issues; any mention of his dad makes him want to beat the shit out of somebody. But he’s not as good at beating the shit out of somebody as the Rich Douchebag (Cam Gigandet), who has it in for Jake (especially after Jake steals his girl!) and who has father issues. So Jake starts training, with the help of a Foreigner (Djimon Hounsou), who has father issues. The Foreigner teaches Jake that fighting for revenge accomplishes nothing. But then everybody realizes that this is silly and that Jake better get his butt over to the Beatdown to settle things once and for all. You’ll root for Jake. You will! 110 minutes | Boston Common + Fenway + Fresh Pond + Circle + suburbs

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Topics: Reviews , Sports, Martial Arts, Cam Gigandet, More

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ARTICLES BY MARK BAZER

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I'm hard-pressed to say, though, whether Extract is a significant leap forward for Judge in terms of story or just not as funny as his earlier work.

SOUL MEN | November 05, 2008
Mac especially is a joy to watch, and a counterpoint to the humor elsewhere, as he breaks out Temptations-style moves with just the right mix of sly fun and respect for the music.

FILTH AND WISDOM | October 27, 2008
As the lead character narrates his “filthy” story, and those of his London flatmates/neighbors, we hit upon boredom long before wisdom can arrive.

CITY OF EMBER | October 15, 2008
Kids who see the truth when adults cannot is a central idea in children’s stories, but today’s kids would hardly recognize the grown-ups in Ember’s totalitarian society.