The Scorpion King review

Dwayne Johnson is a 29-year-old Californian with a degree in criminology and a happy family life of a wife and two children. To millions of adoring fans across the planet however he is better known by his nickname: The Rock. As the most popular figure in the elaborately designed world of the World Wrestling Federation he has been both good guy (champion) and bad guy (expelled from the federation). After a minor role in the recent The Mummy Returns, studio executives have taken the unusual step of giving him the lead role in a big budget (reported at $60m) blockbuster, in an unashamed attempt to cash in on his popularity. A wise step, or pure folly? A He-Man who can grunt but can't act? Well, judging on his debut performance, The Rock may well be around for some time.

It's easy to sneer at what on the face of it seems like little more than an exploitative attempt at making a quick buck. And there are certainly lots of things wrong with The Scorpion King. Firstly, a script which is dead on arrival, and offers none of the pace, irony or sheer fun which made The Mummy so enjoyable. Secondly, there are some lamentable performances: Steven Brand is distinctly unimpressive as the evil Memnon whom Mathayus (The Rock) must overthrow to save the ancient world. His sidekick Kelly Hu (a graduate of Sunset Beach) lacks any depth whatsoever. But the award for worst performance goes to someone who should really know better: Michael Clarke Duncan is not only out-acted by a camel, but is wiped off the screen in his scenes opposite The Rock.

But despite leaden scripting and poor performances, there are also things to enjoy. Director Chuck Russell (responsible for Bless the Child, one of last year's most laughable films) keeps things running along at a fair whack. If it's spectacular explosions and fight scenes you are after then this is the place to be. Overall, the film has a feelgood factor reminiscent of the Saturday morning series of the 1930s and 40s.

As for the leading man, I wouldn't put any money on him winning an Oscar some time soon. But he does have the crucial ingredient of any screen presence: charisma. Wisely the filmmakers don't give him any long 'acting' scenes, but what he does, he certainly does very impressively and he comes across as a rather likeable presence. Not dissimilar from the early Arnie. All in all, not at all as bad as might have been expected.