44
Metascore
31 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70The Hollywood ReporterSheri LindenThe Hollywood ReporterSheri LindenThe cast acquits itself well, with the Rock evincing a quiet balance between humor and brawn.
- 70VarietyScott FoundasVarietyScott FoundasMoves along at a clip and provides a terrific action lead for Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson.
- 60L.A. WeeklyL.A. WeeklyJohnny Knoxville has a few inspired bits as Vaughn's recovering-addict chum, and The Rock carries an effortlessly soft side in the nonviolent scenes, but Bray doesn't linger too long on anything that doesn't end in a thud or wallop.
- 60Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranThis Walking Tall does have the Rock, and that, both physically and metaphorically, is no small thing.
- 58Entertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumEntertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumThere's not a guy I know who hasn't been looking forward to seeing The Rock pick up the big wooden stick first swung by Joe Don Baker more than 30 years ago.
- 50Dallas ObserverLuke Y. ThompsonDallas ObserverLuke Y. ThompsonUnlike the original, there's no R-rated grit and no familial executions -- gotta get the young-skewing WWE fan base in there.
- 50Chicago TribuneChicago TribuneA fine shoot-'em-up remake. The story is mildly gripping, and the action is fresh and entertaining.
- 50TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghAlthough inspired by actual events, the film proceeds along formulaic wish-fulfillment lines, its dynamics unaltered by the casting of a mixed-race actor in what was originally a redneck role; it's a sign of some sort of social progress that justified ass-kicking trumps race.
- 30Village VoiceVillage VoiceThe plot is so absurdly perfunctory that preview audiences snickered at its TV-drama slapdashness; the producers should have pushed the straight-camp potential much further and retitled this weak bruiser Sporting Wood.
- 30Washington PostMichael O'SullivanWashington PostMichael O'SullivanActually underserves its star, who is better than schlocky material like this would lead you to believe.