Movie Review

Never Back Down (2008)

Reviewed by Gregory Kirschling | Mar 19, 2008

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EW's GRADE

Details Release Date: Mar 14, 2008; Rated: PG-13; Length: 104 Minutes; Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama; With: Sean Faris and Djimon Hounsou

Image credit: Gene Page

NEVER BACK DOWN Djimon Hounsou as a modern-day Mr. Miyagi in this punchless martial-arts flick

For a movie called Never Back Down, its high school hero Jake (Sean Faris) sure backs down a lot. Challenged to a mixed martial-arts match by a bully at a pool party, Jake doesn't want to brawl. Then he does. After he gets beaten down, he trains with a local Mr. Miyagi (Djimon Hounsou) for the rematch. Which he doesn't wanna fight in. Until he finally does. Movie is dopey. And with its emphasis on stupid violence, xylophone abs, and getting yourself on YouTube, it's yet another product that makes you feel bad about today's youth culture. D

Originally posted Mar 19, 2008 Published in issue #984 Mar 28, 2008 Order article reprints

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