So I had an invitation to go and catch this on a lazy Saturday afternoon and thought why not? After all, this looked to be prime 90′s Die Hard rip-off, the type not seen for quite some time. You remember the type, where the protagonist was a good natured family man trapped in the wrong situation, only with more muscle mass in one arm than I probably have in my entire body. Usually starring the facially-challenged star of the day, be it Van Damme, Seagal or if you felt like scraping the barrel Lundgren and Norris. To my shame I must admit the trailer had me marginally interested despite the appearance of WWE wrestler John Cena. Plus it was directed by Renny Harlin, not an acclaimed director by any means, but a man responsible for both Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger, surely two of the finest action films of the 90′s.

Sadly times have changed since action was rated ’18′ and the heroes, although not always the best actors, at least possessed a bit of charisma and ’12 Rounds’ is a shining example of why action films of this ilk should be left in the 90′s. It has everything – the cat and mouse game around town, the slimy European villain, the kidnapped girlfriend, the disposable supporting cast, the smart talking partner. Heck, it even has the incompetent FBI agents out to make our heroes day a little bit worst. I could go on….

Taking up the role of tough cop caught in the wrong situation is John Cena, who resembles a mumbling, bulked up Mark Wahlburg. His neck muscles awkwardly squeezed into a police uniform and his quips not quite as sharp as you’d hope, he looks more a hen party stripper than a functioning member of any police force. This wouldn’t be so much of a problem if only he possessed a little bit of screen charima. On this showing he would be best suited playing background thugs than the main man.

To the films credit it flies by at such a pace that it barely gives Cena enough time to breath never mind act. Furthermore the frantically edited action set pieces should be commended for rejecting the use of CGI, and showing a blatant disregard for public transport. However, any promise is ruined by Harlin’s insistence to edit each scene into a overwrought, disjointed, zoomed in flip show.

It’s the kind of entertainment you may put up with in a late night slumber on some obscure cable channel, but for the ‘frantic roller-coaster thrill ride’ it’s billed as you may want to give this a miss.