'12 Rounds' explodes onto DVD scene

June 30, 8:26 AMPhoenix Movie ExaminerJoseph J. Airdo

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Det. Danny Fisher (John Cena) wrestles up nonstop action in
Fox Atomic's "12 Rounds."

This week's DVD releases are slim-pickings but one of said releases is one of the most action-packed flicks of the year. It did not fare too well at the box office so chances are you missed out on all the fun... until now.

“12 Rounds”

WWE star John Cena headlines “12 Rounds” as New Orleans police officer Danny Fisher who accidentally kills a woman while chasing criminal mastermind Miles (Aiden Gillen). The woman happens to be Miles's girlfriend. One year and a new title later, Det. Fisher learns that Miles has somehow escaped from prison and kidnapped his girlfriend Molly (Ashley Scott) in an attempt to exact revenge.

Tracing Det. Fisher's efforts to save his girlfriend's life via a series of 12 nearly impossible tasks, “12 Rounds” offers up more action than even the best Hollywood blockbuster. Even the fact that the filmmakers take shortcuts around many of the “rounds” (there are really only six or seven of them) can be forgiven because the movie is so undeniably entertaining. From one moment to the next, there is hardly a second of downtime in this action-packed thrill ride.

The movie really only has two weaknesses: the amount of wild destruction Det. Fisher leaves in his path and an odd lack of emotion. You would think that a movie about a kidnapping would be able to garner some type of passionate reaction but this is all about the action. In that respect, the movie fails to exude any real substance, which prevents it from being any more than a well-made action flick.

Read the full review: '12 Rounds's' nonstop action tugs at audience's adrenaline