Whether he develops into 'the next Schwarzenegger' or not, The Rock has more charisma than Van Damme, Lundgren, Seagal and Brian Bosworth combined.

But then, so does the chunk of wood that is his weapon of choice in this knuckle-headed hybrid of Roadhouse and The A-Team.

Like the 1973 movie of the same name and its iffy TV spin-off, Walking Tall is inspired by the deeds of gen-u-ine Tennessee lawman Buford Pusser.

Obviously, you can't have The Rock playing a Pusser, so here he's Chris Vaughn, an ex-Special Forces grunt returning to find his hometown being run by old school rival Hamilton (Steve McQueen clone McDonough).

Hamilton has shut down the lumber mill, bought off the cops and opened up a spanking casino where the locals fritter their welfare cheques on slots, sluts, booze and drugs.

Vaughn is not impressed and sets about making a few changes - after Hamilton's goons have set about him.

There's no pratting about with nonsense like characterisation, believability or the element of surprise.

Of course Hamilton's had a bit of previous with Vaughn's ex. Of course dear old dad will have to pick up his old gun again. And of course Johnny Knoxville plays the loveable jackass.

Disposable action fodder for the attention-deficient... When's the next Scorpion King movie coming out?

Elliot Noble