Walking Tall (2004)

REVIEW
Pseudo-remake of the southern-fried, '70s drive-in hit sorely misses the oddball charisma of likable macho redneck Joe Don Baker as the wonderfully named Buford T. Pusser (a real-life sheriff). The basic premise is intact, but The Rock (playing a fictitious character name Chris Vaughn — snooze), while not without his charms, ain't no Buford. He plays a veteran who returns to his hometown to find it's been run into the ground by a corrupt businessman (McDonough), an old crony of Chris'. After the ganglord's men nearly beat him to death, Chris goes on a righteous rampage, and is elected sheriff in the process! Waking Tall is a wholly ordinary, predictable, bland vehicle for its star. Only for fans of The Rock — c'mon, you know who you are.