SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: 12 ROUNDS

"12 ROUNDS"
(2009) (John Cena, Aidan Gillen) (PG-13)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Minor	Moderate	Extreme	*Moderate	Extreme

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	Mild	Heavy	Mild	Moderate

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Moderate	Minor	None	Moderate	Extreme

QUICK TAKE:: Action: A detective must pass twelve challenges set by a terrorist in order to free his kidnapped girlfriend.

PLOT:

Danny Fisher (JOHN CENA) and Hank Carver (BRIAN WHITE) are cop partners in New Orleans who get involved in the effort to capture terrorist Miles Jackson (AIDAN GILLEN) who's been spotted in the Big Easy by FBI agents George Aiken (STEVE HARRIS) and Ray Santiago (GONZALO MENENDEZ). After recognizing Mile's girlfriend, Erica Kessen (TAYLOR COLE), driving a car, Danny has Hank pull her over. A shootout with Miles follows, with Danny chasing after the fleeing car, and while he manages to arrest the terrorist, another vehicle accidentally strikes Erica, killing her.

A year later, Danny and Hank have been promoted to detective, and Danny is still living with girlfriend Molly Porter (ASHLEY SCOTT). After she leaves for work, Danny receives an unsettling call from Miles who states he's escaped from prison and is going to avenge Erica's death by playing a high-stakes game with the cop. It turns out he's back in town, has abducted Molly, and informs Danny that their game is going to involve twelve rounds of challenges he must pass if he hopes to see his girlfriend alive again.

From that point on, and with Hank's help but some run-ins with the FBI agents who only care about getting their man, Danny races against time to meet the terrorist's demands.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're fans of anyone in the cast or "Die Hard" and "Speed" type action films, they might be interested.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For intense sequences of violence and action.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: JOHN CENA plays a New Orleans cop who happens to be in the right place at the right time to arrest Miles, resulting in Erica's accidental death. A year later, the now detective must contend with Miles kidnapping Molly and putting the cop through a series of challenges to save his live-in girlfriend. He takes various risks and shows bravery (while also putting some others at risk) while doing so. He uses profanity and drinks some.
AIDAN GILLEN plays a terrorist who avenges his girlfriend's death a year earlier (that he blames on Danny) by kidnapping the cop's girlfriend and then putting the detective through those twelve rounds of challenges. He kills others and has ulterior motives beyond just getting revenge.
BRIAN WHITE plays Danny's cop partner, a self-proclaimed ladies man who assists Danny in trying to find and rescue Molly. He uses profanity and drinks some.
ASHLEY SCOTT plays Danny's live-in girlfriend, a hospital worker whose big issue before being adducted is Danny not completing repair projects around the house.
STEVE HARRIS plays a no-nonsense FBI agent who's focused on catching Miles, no matter what the cost, and he initially doesn't really care about Danny and his abducted girlfriend, although he eventually changes his tune. He uses some profanity.
GONZALO MENENDEZ plays another FBI agent, less severe than Aiken, who's also after Miles and more directly assists Danny, although he's concerned with the potential risk to others as the cop tries to meet the terrorist's challenges.; AIDAN GILLEN plays a terrorist who avenges his girlfriend's death a year earlier (that he blames on Danny) by kidnapping the cop's girlfriend and then putting the detective through those twelve rounds of challenges. He kills others and has ulterior motives beyond just getting revenge.
BRIAN WHITE plays Danny's cop partner, a self-proclaimed ladies man who assists Danny in trying to find and rescue Molly. He uses profanity and drinks some.
ASHLEY SCOTT plays Danny's live-in girlfriend, a hospital worker whose big issue before being adducted is Danny not completing repair projects around the house.
STEVE HARRIS plays a no-nonsense FBI agent who's focused on catching Miles, no matter what the cost, and he initially doesn't really care about Danny and his abducted girlfriend, although he eventually changes his tune. He uses some profanity.
GONZALO MENENDEZ plays another FBI agent, less severe than Aiken, who's also after Miles and more directly assists Danny, although he's concerned with the potential risk to others as the cop tries to meet the terrorist's challenges.; BRIAN WHITE plays Danny's cop partner, a self-proclaimed ladies man who assists Danny in trying to find and rescue Molly. He uses profanity and drinks some.
ASHLEY SCOTT plays Danny's live-in girlfriend, a hospital worker whose big issue before being adducted is Danny not completing repair projects around the house.
STEVE HARRIS plays a no-nonsense FBI agent who's focused on catching Miles, no matter what the cost, and he initially doesn't really care about Danny and his abducted girlfriend, although he eventually changes his tune. He uses some profanity.
GONZALO MENENDEZ plays another FBI agent, less severe than Aiken, who's also after Miles and more directly assists Danny, although he's concerned with the potential risk to others as the cop tries to meet the terrorist's challenges.; ASHLEY SCOTT plays Danny's live-in girlfriend, a hospital worker whose big issue before being adducted is Danny not completing repair projects around the house.
STEVE HARRIS plays a no-nonsense FBI agent who's focused on catching Miles, no matter what the cost, and he initially doesn't really care about Danny and his abducted girlfriend, although he eventually changes his tune. He uses some profanity.
GONZALO MENENDEZ plays another FBI agent, less severe than Aiken, who's also after Miles and more directly assists Danny, although he's concerned with the potential risk to others as the cop tries to meet the terrorist's challenges.; STEVE HARRIS plays a no-nonsense FBI agent who's focused on catching Miles, no matter what the cost, and he initially doesn't really care about Danny and his abducted girlfriend, although he eventually changes his tune. He uses some profanity.
GONZALO MENENDEZ plays another FBI agent, less severe than Aiken, who's also after Miles and more directly assists Danny, although he's concerned with the potential risk to others as the cop tries to meet the terrorist's challenges.; GONZALO MENENDEZ plays another FBI agent, less severe than Aiken, who's also after Miles and more directly assists Danny, although he's concerned with the potential risk to others as the cop tries to meet the terrorist's challenges.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

Here's a quick look at the content found in this action flick that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 14 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Some sexually related, but non-explicit dialogue is present, as are brief song lyrics. A woman is briefly seen in a bikini, while another is seen in just a t-shirt, and one acts somewhat sexy to distract a cop who's pulled her over.

Violence consists of people being killed by various means (gunfire, explosions, stabbing, being hit by a vehicle, falling, etc.), while others are wounded and some brutal fighting is also present. Some of that has bloody results (but not as much as possible considering what occurs), and those scenes and several sequences of peril might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some viewers.

The fighting, stunts and other action and behavior might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate, while various bad attitudes are present. There's brief drinking and a miscellaneous person is seen smoking.

If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself and/or anyone in your home, we suggest that you read our full details for more detailed information.

For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, some of that occurs from police emergency lights.

For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's a great deal of camera movement throughout the film.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: We briefly see people drinking (possibly alcohol) on the city streets.
Various people drink in a bar/pool hall where Hank grabs two beers for Danny and himself. When Danny pours his into a plastic cup to leave, Hank says they should have one more round, but Danny mentions them already having six.

BLOOD/GORE: We briefly see blood on the blades of what appear to be shears that Miles has used to kill someone.
We see blood on Erica as she lies dead on the street (after being hit by a truck), while Miles has a little bit of blood on his face from a different car accident.
Danny sarcastically reminds Miles that prison food "tastes like sh*t."
Danny punches Agent Aiken in the face for putting him, Molly and others at risk. Agent Aiken then has a little bit of a bloody lip.
We see what appear to be some spots of blood on a piece of paper.
Danny and Agent Santiago have a few bloody cuts/scrapes on their faces after jumping from a moving car.
Danny has some bloody cuts/scrapes on his head after fighting Miles, whose face is somewhat bloody after Danny pummels him.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: There's talk that Miles is a terrorist responsible for various bombings, other deaths, and even the decapitation of his own brother (none of which is seen). He continues his criminal ways here, including abducting Molly to get revenge on Danny, and kills or is responsible for the murders of various additional people.
Agent Aiken initially has a bad attitude toward Danny and his plight.
Agent Aiken makes a mocking "talking chatter" gesture with his hand aimed at Agent Santiago. He then pushes Agent Santiago back against a wall, telling him not to be a hero as it's not in his (Agent Santiago's) pay grade.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Scenes listed under "Violence" may also be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material.
Hank nearly runs through a red light and barely avoids being hit by a truck crossing the road in front of him and Danny.
A barking dog chases after Danny who jumps a fence, but drops his gun and can't retrieve it due to the dog.
Danny races across town to try to get to Molly before Miles does, but he's too late.
Following Miles' rules, Danny retrieves two safe deposit boxes and is informed one has a bomb inside and the other an important clue. He then has just seven minutes to travel 23 blocks to get to the next location, so he throws a large cable spool out through a window, descends that cable, and when he gets to the end, drops down onto and falls through several layers of scaffolding. He then takes a fire truck and races across town, smashing into a parked police car. He then runs over a row of motorcycles to avoid hitting a tourist, and then drives through a sidewalk cantina and its chairs and tables (after those there have fled out of the way). He then swerves to avoid hitting a vehicle in his path, but then crashes into many others. When he gets to his destination, he discerns which box has the explosive and heaves into a body of water where it harmlessly explodes.
Danny finds himself on an old fashioned and large freight elevator that's suddenly stopped. He then receives a call from Miles who informs him the brakes will be blown in 60 seconds, meaning Danny must get himself and an obese security guard out of it before it drops. Danny goes up through the top hatch and tries to pull the other man to safety, but he falls back down to the car floor. He then succeeds the second time, and goes up part of the wall where he extends his hand for the man to grab, but the brake line blows and the car (with the man on top of it) plummets many stories down out of sight. A gas line is ruptured, but we don't see the impact, although a closed body bag is later removed from the scene.
Danny finds Molly on a bus with a bomb or bombs strapped around her torso. He then sees Miles there who informs him that if his (Miles') finger comes off a touch panel for too long, one small explosive will send a long nail through Molly's heart, and then another will set off the bigger bomb(s) on her. After Miles handcuffs Danny to a grip pole inside the bus, we see that the FBI is preparing to use sniper rifles to shoot Miles on that crowded bus. Danny realizes this as well and grabs Molly and Miles, pulling them down just as shots blast through the bus windows.
Danny and Agent Santiago have just a minute to try to pick the right phone number out of several that will prevent something bad from occurring. They're wrong, and then learn that a streetcar's brakes have been blown on a downhill course. They then speed there to try to help, all as the streetcar picks up speed. Danny then drives in front of the streetcar and slams on the brakes, with the streetcar hitting and partially lifting the car. Danny then uses his handgun to hit and crack the windshield that he pushes out. He then climbs onto the roof of the car and must then hold on to avoid falling off, followed by busting the glass on the front of the street car to get inside that. He then climbs onto its roof and tries to break off the electric pole line, but can't and nearly falls off, briefly dangling from the side. During this, a truck hits a bus, and the street car smashes into a different truck. Once back in his car, Danny peels away and then heads toward an electric substation. He and Agent Santiago jump out of the moving car that then crashes into the station that explodes and sparks. But the streetcar keeps plowing forward, and the people beyond the end of the line see that, panic, and get out of the way just in time as it crashes into chairs and such, but no one is hurt on the ground and no serious injuries occur inside the streetcar.
Miles informs Danny that Molly is somewhere in the city with a bomb around her, and that he has a short amount of time to find and save her.
Miles holds a gun on Molly to make her fly a helicopter, but Danny and Agent Aiken arrive on the scene, with Miles shooting and injuring Agent Aiken. Molly strikes Miles in the crotch with a small fire extinguisher, and that allows Danny to run, jump and land on the landing rung from which he then dangles. He and Miles then fight, both there (with Miles' gun going off several times and disabling the chopper's hydraulics) and inside the chopper that's losing control. Danny smashes Miles back against a wall, but the latter fights back, wrapping tubes around Danny's neck before stabbing a scalpel into his side. Danny breaks free and pummels Miles in the face repeatedly, but he then gleefully informs Danny and Molly that there's a bomb onboard counting down toward detonation. With no time to land, Danny and Molly (who kicks Miles) jump from the chopper and fall a long way into a rooftop pool, while the chopper explodes, presumably killing Miles.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Handguns/Machine guns/Explosives: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details.
Danny tells Molly that a cop has two things, his badge and his gun, and he can't find the former.
Danny and Hank have their guns drawn and point them at people as they search for Miles on the streets.
FBI agents carry machine guns and handguns as they enter a building.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Ah sh*t," "Holy sh*t," "I'm working my sh*t over here," "Tastes like sh*t," "You gotta be sh*tting me," "Bullsh*t," "What's keeping me from reaching over there and kicking the sh*t out of you?" "You listen to me, you little sh*t," "You pr*ck," "Shut up," "Show me that Irish bastard," "Freakishly large man," "You son of a bitch," "It's gonna bruise like a bitch," "Pansy ass," "Douche-bag brother," "My bad," "Hell no," "We're screwed," "Dude," "Why the hell are you calling me?" "Nut" (crazy person), "Stay the hell out of my way," "Don't be a hero...it's not in your pay grade," "Pissed off," "What the hell happened?" "Pick up the G*ddamn phone," "Are you out of your damn mind?" "You are out of your damn mind," "Bitch" (man) and "You land it, bitch" (said to a man).
The fighting, stunts and other action might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate.
We briefly see a street performer twirling a flaming baton.
At various points in the film, we see miscellaneous characters with tattoos.
Erica acts somewhat sexy toward Hank when he pulls her over, all to distract him (and it works).
We see miscellaneous graffiti.
To get around traffic and try to save Molly, Danny drives across sidewalks and down hills.
Agent Aiken makes a mocking "talking chatter" gesture with his hand aimed at Agent Santiago.
Molly spits at Miles.

JUMP SCENES: As Erica tries to run away, a truck suddenly and accidentally strikes and kills her.
A truck suddenly explodes, followed by a house doing the same.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A heavy amount of action-oriented and some suspenseful music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): We briefly see a couple standing by a hot tub (she in a bikini, he in just swim trunks) as a song playing there (or just on the soundtrack) has the purposefully suggestive lyric, "My love is growing."

PROFANITY: At least 14 "s" words, 1 slang term using male genitals ("pr*ck"), 10 asses (3 used with "hole"), 9 hells, 3 damns, 1 crap, 1 S.O.B., 4 uses of "G-damn," 2 of "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "Jesus" and "Swear to God."

SEX/NUDITY: Danny playfully tells Molly he still has 10 minutes before he has to leave for work. She replies it (sex) only takes him two, with him saying that's a strong two. They then kiss and he leaves.
Hank jokes that he's sexier than Danny (about why the former has lived with so many women), and that his partner should marry Molly, adding that as a freakishly large man, he needs to put her in cuffs (presumably a metaphor for marriage, but possibly also some innuendo).
Erica shows some cleavage and she and Miles passionately kiss while outside and clothed.
Erica acts somewhat sexy toward Hank when he pulls her over, all to distract him (and it works).
Danny jokes to a woman in a bar/pool hall (and who shows some cleavage) that she doesn't need to worry about Hank as they had him neutered.
As Molly works on a plumbing leak, she shows a lot of bare leg while wearing just a t-shirt (nothing explicit is seen then or when she stands).
Miles tells Danny that his 12 round challenge is a game, like Monopoly, Mousetrap or "naked Twister."
Miles places his handgun on Molly's chest in something of a sexual fashion.
Danny and Molly briefly but passionately kiss after surviving Miles' attempts to kill them.
We briefly see a couple standing by a hot tub (she in a bikini, he in just swim trunks) as a song playing there (or just on the soundtrack) has the purposefully suggestive lyric, "My love is growing."

SMOKING: A miscellaneous person is seen smoking on the street.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: None.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Revenge.
Terrorists.
How the FBI and local police work together on cases like this.
Professional wrestlers who become actors.

VIOLENCE: An informant decides not to go along with the FBI's plan on capturing Miles, and thus shoots the terrorist several times. Others there then shoot out various security cameras with machine guns, and once inside a van, we see that the two men are working together and that Miles is wearing a bulletproof vest. However, he then stabs that helper dead (in the gut) with what appear to be shears, and we later see two other dead men in that vehicle.
Danny has Hank pull over Erica, and then opens the trunk. That reveals Miles who shoots at both men (we hear that Hank has been shot in the butt -- no blood), with Danny returning fire as the car speeds away. Danny then gives chase on foot, eventually catching the car, and he and Miles exchange shots, but no one is hit. The chase then continues, with Danny eventually forcing a boat on a trailer to roll into the path of the villains' car. It strikes it, goes airborne, and has a bad crash. Danny then holds his gun on Miles and Erica, but she tries to run away and is accidentally struck by a large vehicle that kills her.
A truck explodes outside Danny's house that then also explodes, presumably killing the plumber inside.
A vehicle accidentally crashes into another.
We see that Miles has Molly bound and gagged, and that continues for most of the film.
We hear that Miles killed the warden while escaping from prison.
We see that Miles has set the top floor of an S&L on fire. Danny then goes along with his brother and other firefighters to the scene where Danny breaks through windows and doors to get to the safe deposit box room (following Miles' rules).
Following Miles' rules, Danny retrieves two safe deposit boxes and is informed one has a bomb inside and the other an important clue. He then has just seven minutes to travel 23 blocks to get to the next location, so he throws a large cable spool out through a window, descends that cable, and when he gets to the end, drops down onto and falls through several layers of scaffolding. He then takes a fire truck and races across town, smashing into a parked police car. He then runs over a row of motorcycles to avoid hitting a tourist, and then drives through a sidewalk cantina and its chairs and tables (after those there have fled out of the way). He then swerves to avoid hitting a vehicle in his path, but then crashes into many others. When he gets to his destination, he discerns which box has the explosive and heaves into a body of water where it harmlessly explodes.
A security guard dies when the elevator car he's on drops many stories without brakes. We don't see the impact, although a closed body bag is later removed from the scene.
Agent Aiken pushes Agent Santiago back against a wall, telling him not to be a hero as it's not in his (Agent Santiago's) pay grade.
Miles smashes an audio bug with his heel.
Sniper shots blast through a bus' windows, but no one is hit.
Danny punches Agent Aiken in the face for putting him, Molly and others at risk. Agent Aiken then has a little bit of a bloody lip.
Danny and Agent Santiago have just a minute to try to pick the right phone number out of several that will prevent something bad from occurring. They're wrong, and then learn that a streetcar's brakes have been blown on a downhill course. They then speed there to try to help, all as the streetcar picks up speed. Danny then drives in front of the streetcar and slams on the brakes, with the streetcar hitting and partially lifting the car. Danny then uses his handgun to hit and crack the windshield that he pushes out. He then climbs onto the roof of the car and must then hold on to avoid falling off, followed by busting the glass on the front of the street car to get inside that. He then climbs onto its roof and tries to break off the electric pole line, but can't and nearly falls off, briefly dangling from the side. During this, a truck hits a bus, and the street car smashes into a different truck. Once back in his car, Danny peels away and then heads toward an electric substation. He and Agent Santiago jump out of the moving car that then crashes into the station that explodes and sparks. But the streetcar keeps plowing forward, and the people beyond the end of the line see that, panic, and get out of the way just in time as it crashes into chairs and such, but no one is hurt on the ground and no serious injuries occur inside the streetcar.
A door is kicked in and guns are drawn as Hank and another cop look for a suspect.
A criminal holds a gun on a cop, but both then see an explosive armed and shot up into the room where it explodes, killing them and possibly another cop.
We see some dead guards on the floor.
Miles sets off an explosion (that blows up one or more vehicles) as a distraction.
Miles shoots two guards outside an elevator.
Miles holds a gun on Molly to make her fly a helicopter, but Danny and Agent Aiken arrive on the scene, with Miles shooting and injuring Agent Aiken. Molly strikes Miles in the crotch with a small fire extinguisher, and that allows Danny to run, jump and land on the landing rung from which he then dangles. He and Miles then fight, both there (with Miles' gun going off several times and disabling the chopper's hydraulics) and inside the chopper that's losing control. Danny smashes Miles back against a wall, but the latter fights back, wrapping tubes around Danny's neck before stabbing a scalpel into his side. Danny breaks free and pummels Miles in the face repeatedly, but he then gleefully informs Danny and Molly that there's a bomb onboard counting down toward detonation. With no time to land, Danny and Molly (who kicks Miles) jump from the chopper and fall a long way into a rooftop pool, while the chopper explodes, presumably killing Miles.

Reviewed March 27, 2009 / Posted March 27, 2009

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.