John Cena, who should stick to the wrestling ring, does in 12 ROUNDS what boils down to a reprise of his character from THE MARINE. The plot is also the same, which has Cena once again chasing after his kidnapped wife. The actress playing the wife even looks like the wife from THE MARINE. The only difference is this time, Cena must match wits with an IRA type who puts Cena through a series of improbable tasks to save her. The film is of the shaky camera and CGI variety, and it frankly isn't as heart-pounding as THE MARINE. This is partly because we've seen it all before, and because the tasks Cena must undertake are completely unbelievable. Plus the acting is sub par. The flick also is highly derivative of past flicks like DIE HARD, PHONE BOOTH, DIRTY HARRY, CELL PHONE and LETHAL WEAPON, among others.

Unremarkable Renny Harlin film stars John Cena as a cop who gets on the bad side of a terrorist by "killing" his girlfriend accidentally. After being in prison for a year the bad guy escapes, kidnaps Cena's wife and then has Cena go through 12 rounds of danger to get his wife back.

The stunts and set pieces are spectacular but the film lacks a reason to care. The ever increasing action scenes becomes rather dull because they make no logical sense in or out of the film. Worse the films pace seems to be off, I looked at my watch and the set up to the story, the cop and terrorist meeting for the first time doesn't come for a half an hour in (its then another 15 minutes before the chase begins in earnest). Its as if we're watching another movie entirely before we get to the real plot of the film. Then the film careens from set piece to set piece, which as I said become more and more unbelievable, and dissipates any tension because they are so fantastic. There is no rhyme or reason to any of it. Its as if the filmmakers were making things up as they went along, dropping plot points at the last possible minute in a futile attempt to fill the plot chasms.

God how I wish I had been home on the couch watching this with friends so I could have made fun of it. 11 Bucks for this? no way. While the action is okay, the rest is a mess and shouldn't be paid for, wait for cable.

5 out of 10 (and am I the only one who thinks this is a poor man's passenger 57?)

As a way to compensate for a lack of original ideas, Renny Harlin, the director of this rip off movie, goes for a non-stop chase through a post Katrina New Orleans, where a man bent on revenge begins following a policeman whom he blames for the death of his beloved lover. To fill 108 minutes of screen time, Mr. Harlin wrecks cars, a helicopter, and even one of the famous St. Charles' streetcars to create an atmosphere in which to play the action.

The problem with this thriller is that we have seen it in other forms, done much better. The casting of the two principals, Aidan Gillen and John Cena, was not, perhaps, a good choice to make either one of their characters remotely likable. Neither actor shows anything to redeem themselves. Mr. Gillen is not creepy enough and Mr. Cena does not show any emotions, even in the most tense situations.

This is a film recommended for fans of this genre that will enjoy the special effects more than a good story that makes more sense that what comes out of "Twelve Rounds"