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Walking Tall (PG-13, 2004)

common sense media says

OK as a WWE grudge match, but not as a movie.

parents & educators say
  • 33% say violence is an issue
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue
See all 4 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie is close to an R for extreme and graphic violence and very strong language. Characters are drug dealers and a young boy smokes marijuana and takes crystal meth. Characters drink and smoke. There are scenes in a casino including scantily-clad dancers. There is a non-explicit sexual situation.

Violence: Intense violence for a PG-13.
Sex: Strippers (in underwear), sexual situation.
Language: Strong language.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Characters are drug dealers, child takes drugs, drinking and smoking.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Walking Tall

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the difference between being a law enforcer and being a vigilante.

What's the story?

What's the story?
This remake begins as hulking Chris Vaughn (The Rock) comes home to find that the mill has been closed, the old sheriff has died, and the town is now dominated by a casino. Vaughn's nephew (Khleo Thomas) has been buying drugs at the casino. So Vaughn takes a cedar plank to the casino and smashes up the slot machines and many of the people who work there. When he is put on trial, he does not deny what he did. But he tells the jury that if they acquit him, he'll run for sheriff and clean up the town.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The original 1973 movie with Joe Don Baker teetered on the brink of vigilantism. This remake produced by World Wrestling Entertainment unhesitatingly dives in with a triple gainer. Yes, they know how to stage fights, though the battles in this WALKING TALL are more intense and graphic than the MPAA normally permits in a PG-13. The story requires a level of credibility and sympathy for the characters that it cannot come close to earning. Instead, it just assumes it, dissipating whatever built-in goodwill any movie about beating the bad guys should generate.

The Rock has a great deal of charm, and Johnny Knoxville brings a wry warmth to the standard best friend role. But in a telling detail about the crude-ifying of this story, instead of the sweet wife in the original movie, Vaughn gets a stripper girlfriend. We're supposed to cheer for Vaughn when he breaks the law just because he's on the side of the good guys, but a battle inside or outside the ring has to feel a little bit fair and this one just doesn't. It's not a good sign when you start to feel sorry for the bad guys. And as for the dialogue -- I think "I put down my gun for good" has to be just behind "I'll be right back" as the top candidates for the "movie words spoken just so they can almost immediately be wrong" award.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: MGM/UA
Director: Kevin Bray
Cast: Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Johnny Knoxville, Neal McDonough
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 86 minutes
Theatrical release: April 2, 2004
DVD release: September 28, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: sequences of intense violence, sexual content, drug material and language
This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

16
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say violence is an issue
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue
  • 33% say language is an issue
  • 33% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

jeliza
adult
16
 
Walking Tall is a great movie. It is about Chris (The Rock) trying to get his town back to the way it was before the mill shut down and casino came to town. With the casino came drugs too. Chris became the cop and started getting the drugs and drug dealers out of the town. But when he tries there is a group of guys that would rather have him dead then to get rid of the drugs and the casino. In this movie The Rock is an outstanding actor and I don’t think they could have found a better person to play the role. Jonny Knoxville plays the Rocks friend and he does a good job too. I would rate this move pg-13 for sexual content, drug use, language and violence.
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REDSKINSFAN
teen, 16 years old
14
 
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dt10
adult
 
It was awsome
THe movie was a little un rated for kids.
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fritzsky
adult
 
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (2)

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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