Movie Review: Legendary

Legendary is an emotional movie surrounding the struggles of one Oklahoma family. The story follows Cal Chetley (Devon Graye), the youngest of two boys, who lost his father at a young age. In an effort to reunite the distant family, Cal joins the high school wrestling team and seeks help from his older brother, Mike (John Cena), who was once the state champion.

The movie also stars Patricia Clarkson and Danny Glover.

Review
Legendary is a movie with plenty of opportunities to shed a tear, many of which are unforeseen. This fact becomes even more surprising when you realize the World Wrestling Entertainment  is related to the project.

While the story will cause an emotional reaction, the movie seemed to lack polish. For starters, Mike, played by John Cena, reminded me of a walking Frankenstein. This character was emotionless for nearly the entire film and he played every scene with the same blank face. The production quality felt low budget and resembled something I would see on Lifetime for women.

The strongest acting came from Cal's mom (Patrica Clarkson), who, along with Danny Glover, brought some credibly to the project. The younger actors, played by Devon Graye and Madeline Martin, seemed to overdo their parts, yet remained likable.

Despite its awkward moments, less than stellar acting, and unpolished presentation, the cast told a good story that many will thoroughly enjoy. For many of its obvious faults, there is a magic that makes it all better. As a member of the audience, I overlooked the unrealistic firework demonstration and Cal's quirky wrestling style in order to experience the high points.

Conclusion
For many moviegoers, you will find this film enjoyable. However, be mindful of when you watch it. It's not a movie I'd recommend you watch with the guys, as it will probably bring the evening down a notch and you'd definitely lose some cool points. However, if you're looking for a good movie to show your tender side, this would fit perfectly.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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