NOW ON DVD

NEVER BACK DOWN
Rated PG-13

Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, Evan Peters, Leslie Hope, Djimon Hounsou

Brian’s Rating       

With a respectful nod to The Karate Kid, and a tip of the hat to Fight Club, Never Back Down arrives in video stores as the first film featuring a plot that depends on the twenty-first century’s penchant for “social media.”

A new kid living under a dark cloud hits the high-school campus intent on keeping to himself, but within hours of his arrival, a YouTube video of his pugilistic past grants him hero status and makes him the target of the reigning mixed martial-arts champ. When the two clash, the school’s network of cell phones and laptops spreads the news faster than you can say “CNN,” and the stage is set for their inevitable rematch.

Never Back Down is not shy about putting its attractive young stars on display and the combination of fists and fitness delivers a healthy dose of eye candy and near-acrobatic action. The requisite love interest, best friend, and inspirational teacher all show up and play their parts nicely, and the result is a satisfying movie experience.