Animal 2 – Unrated

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Episodes: C-

 

 

Though we never saw Animal 1, Animal 2 looks like a strange attempt to be like Walter Hill’s underrated film Undisputed, as far as the time spent in prison is concerned including the boxing drama.  Ving Rhames stars as James “Animal” Allen, who goes back and forth between prisons.  When his son is in trouble, he agrees to fight in exchange to get him help.  Of course, there is more to this when others are trying to exploit him and the situation for money and worse.

 

Director Ryan Combs tries to make this work, but the number one problem is that there is really nothing new here, though the cast does make solid efforts to elevate the obvious.  The tough tone is consistent and Rhames alone raises this above straight-to-video muck, but it is ultimately just a case of too much formula and this never really works out.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is obviously shot in high definition and looks it too much and too often, but at least Director of Photography Brendan Steacy does not mutilate the color or try tired camera tricks and tired editing.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has weak Pro Logic surrounds with dialogue recorded just well enough to hear well, but it is somewhat rich.  The only extra is a making of featurette.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo