Release Date: July 29th, 2008
Running Time: 113 minutes

The Film

I am a boxing fan to the core. The recent rise of MMA, and subsequent criticism of boxing, has not sat well with me. I’ve given MMA numerous chances to draw me in, but I’ve never been able to get invested in the sport like I am with boxing. Something about the mixing and deterioration of different fighting styles into one, amorphous grapple-fest doesn’t appeal to me. Never Back Down stumbles in its attempt to appeal to both tweens and MMA fans, resulting in a film that doesn’t pack a serious dramatic punch or contain the brutality of a classic like Bloodsport.

The film stars Sean Faris as Jack Tyler, a high school senior who is kicked out of school for fighting and relocates to Orlando, Florida with his family. By the time he arrives at his new school he is already infamous due to his fight being posted on YouTube. This garners him the attention of beauty Baja Miller (Amber Heard), and puts him in the target of school king Ryan McCarthy (Cam Gigandet). Jake is invited to a lavish house party, only to be beaten up and humiliated by Ryan. Pissed off and with revenge on the brain, Jake signs up for martial arts training from a local MMA master named Jean Rocha (Djimon Hounsou). Initially wanting only to obtain the necessary skills to whip Ryan, Jake finds the training to be a way to work out his issues and better himself.

The plot is pretty cookie-cutter. The new kid on the block has to overcome the legendary bully, and maybe get the girl. What were you expecting, Shakespeare? On a positive note, the fight scenes are very well done, especially in this “Extended Beatdown Edition.” The fights contain more brutal sound effects and extended sequences. However, without the bloody, entertaining benefits of a true R rating, the lack of an interesting plot really hurts the film. The dramatic moments are awkward at best, serving only as transitions between the fighting. Never Back Down isn’t a bad film, it just doesn’t offer anything new to the genre other than a focus on MMA.

The DVD

The video is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen. Colors and flesh tones are accurate for the most part, though the background can seem oversaturated at times and result in a loss of detail. Grain is minimal and only the occasional compression artifact pops up.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/Spanish subtitles. The only thing that matters here is the fight scenes, and they do not disappoint. Every impact, every blow comes through with incredible, brutal detail. Likewise, the atmospheric crowd effects create an incredible, energetic ambience. This is an aggressive, unforgiving mix during these moments.

The Extras

Commentary is offered by Director Jeff Wadlow, Writer Chris Hauty, and Sean Faris. This isn’t the most intellectual film, so don’t expect a filmmaking lesson. However, there is some decent information about filming fight sequences, as well as some fun anecdotes relating to those scenes

11 Deleted/Extended Scenes are available. I’m not a fan of deleted scenes; they were cut for a reason. These are no exception.

“Mix It Up: Bringing MMA to the Big Screen” is an 8-minute introduction to the world of MMA and the various fighting styles it encompasses.

“Blow-By-Blow: Breaking Down the Fights” is the best featurette on the set, perhaps even more entertaining than the film itself. This offers over 40 minutes of in-depth analysis covering every major fight scene in the film.

“Star Power: Djimon in Training” is a short montage showing Djimon learning different fighting styles.

“The Thrill of the Fight: Choreographing MMA” is a very short piece with the stunt coordinator.

Lastly, “Training the Cast” is a 2-minute EPK piece with interviews from the cast discussing their experiences with MMA.

Final Thoughts

Never Back Down is a predictable, but somewhat entertaining, combat film with some fun moments, but I’d take Bloodsport over it any day of the week.