Studio: Summit Entertainment (1hr. 52 min.)
Plot: A father goes undercover for the DEA in order to free his son who was imprisoned after being set up in drug deal.
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Barry Pepper, Michael K. Williams, Benjamin Bratt, Rafi Gavron, Harold Perrineau
Rating: PG-13
Bottom Line: ***
By Laurence Washington
Dwayne Johnson (“The Rock” to you) takes on a Mexican cartel drug dealer (Benjamin Bratt) in “Snitch” – a surprising departure from Johnson’s usual action fare where he traditionally administers ass whippins – even in milk commercials.
However, in “Snitch,” Johnson is on the receiving end of intimidation and violence by baddies when he volunteers to infiltrate a drug cartel to reduce his son’s drug trafficking charges.
Johnson plays John Matthews, an owner of a successful construction business, whose estranged son Jason (Rafi Gavron) is set up by a drug-dealing friend looking to make a deal with the DEA by informing on other dealers. However, Jason is not a drug dealer. He’s just stupid for accepting a parcel full of Ecstasy for his friend. When Jason opens the box, it’s showtime! The feds pounce and Jason finds himself facing a mandatory 10-year jail sentence.
Matthews approaches a U.S. attorney (Susan Sarandon) with a deal of his own. He’ll offer the cartel the use of his company’s semi-trucks to transport their drugs and money while secretly arranging for their arrest in exchange for his son’s release.
“Snitch” is bill boarded as “based on actual events.” So it’s a composite of real stories sprinkled with a strong dose of Hollywood — to make it more entertaining. So Rock fans relax, there is a little shoot ‘em up, bang, bang in the third act. “Snitch” also takes awhile to get going, but it’s entertaining nonetheless.
Source: Blackflix.com
This was printed in the March 10, 2013 – March 23, 2013 Edition
