The first review is in for the new WWE Studios project Inside Out starring Triple H – and it’s bowling-shoe ugly. The Orlando Sentinel’s review takes aim at both WWE Studios (for trying to manufacture the next Dwyane Johnson-level breakout star) and Triple H (who they say will never be more than a tough-guy supporting character).
At one point in the movie, Triple H’s character is asked about his time in prison, to which he responds, “You just sit there — and it passes” – and the Sentinel’s Roger Moore says Inside Out is very similar to that experience.
Here are some “highlights” from The Orlando Sentinel’s review:
“World Wrestling Entertainment’s brief flirtation with family friendly films has ended. But the residue of this effort sticks to “Inside Out,” a half-hearted return to the violent men of the ring doing violent things on the screen model that predated the PG years.
And they refuse to abandon their efforts to turn one of their stars into the next Rock or Hulk Hogan, a crossover phenomenon about to carry movies and TV shows, and not just other wrestlers and folding chairs.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque has the look, the demeanor and the skills to be a useful heavy in other people’s action films. He’s so muscle-bound, his arms can’t quite drop to his side. His face is more scary than handsome. Yet “Inside Out” is yet another attempt to make him a leading man.”
And the single resonant line about prison comes too late to give the movie the tone they might have been going for. Asked, fearfully, about jail time, A.J. (Triple H’s character) intones, “You just sit there — and it passes.”
That’s a pretty fair description of “Inside Out,” too. (Bruce) Dern could have played this mobster whose cover job is running an animal hospital a seriously strange or seriously silly spin. But he has nothing to play. Parker Posey does her best to hide that this is just a WWE paycheck part.”
And Levesque does nothing to suggest that if the WWE weren’t backing him that he’d ever be anything on screen other than the guy who beats the heck out Jason Statham or whoever in someone else’s action picture.”
Ouch. To read the full review, head over to the Orlando Sentinel website.
