Some actors possess a certain charisma that makes an ardent fan out of you, willing to see them in films of significantly varying quality. Michael Jai White is one such actor - relegated throughout two decades to low-grade action pictures and lackluster sequels, the imposing martial artist has recently seen a resurgence as a burly vigilante known only as Black Dynamite. Prior to that lauded appearance, White displayed his skills in several direct-to-DVD sequels, and it's a canny move on his part to seize the director's chair on one of these flicks. The direct-to-DVD market has breathed life into has-been careers and allowed some actors who'd otherwise be anonymously sidelined to clamber up the slopes to a cult fanbase.
Unfortunately, that film happens to be Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown. Fortunately, White directs an overlong and thematically empty film with a steady hand and as the commentary reveals, is quite aware of the product he's putting out. White laments several unnecessary sex scenes, calling out the producers for forcing his hand to include certain shots. That said, Never Back Down 2 is marginally connected to the first (via Max (Evan Peters), the brains and comic relief) but requires no prior knowledge to enjoy this concoction of brawls and limp drama.
The plot (which I'm told bears impeccable similarities to the first film) involves several men, who for a variety of reasons - or rather subplots to pad the running the time - must train under White's reluctant yet immensely skilled fighter in order to enter The Beatdown, an underground MMA tournament. Simple enough, right? Well, be prepared for two acts that while decently shot, move at a snail's pace. The good stuff - the fighting, is sprinkled throughout and doesn't truly rear its head until an excellent third act, which delivers on the intense MMA action the film boasts. Am I recommending that you skip 60-70 minutes in? Probably not - the sequences aren't nearly as satisfying if you haven't spent the prior hour watching several subplots develop via displays of machismo and cliches thrown around with careless abandon.
DVD Bonus Features
A commentary with White, write Todd Duffee and actor/MMA fighter Scottie Epstein, two deleted scenes and several trailers - oddly excluding the film's own.
"Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown" is on sale September 13, 2011 and is rated R. Action, Martial-Arts. Directed by Michael Jai White. Written by Chris Hauty. Starring Evan Peters, Gralen Bryant Banks, Michael Jai White, Rus Blackwell, Stacey Asaro.
