Edit

The movie comes out next week and because of the comments in this thread - I'll download it and have a look.


Can he actually act? I know he's a pro wrestler and performing is their shtick but I've never seen him act. I assumed he's only capable of playing some kind of action meathead or being in a moronic comedy.

The Independent (2022)

This straight-to-Peacock political thriller centers on the final weeks of campaign season for an election in which the two leading contenders for president are groundbreaking candidates: One (Ann Dowd) is on the verge of becoming America's first female president, while the other (John Cena) would be the first independent to win the presidency in modern times. But a pair of journalists (Jodie Turner-Smith and Brian Cox) uncover a conspiracy that throws the race into question.

    • FlakesBongler [they/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Yeah, and he's not just being a lunkhead in that either

      There's some genuine pathos in it, which is something that capeshit so rarely has in it

  • RION [she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Was good in The Suicide Squad, but that's the only thing I've seen him in since Fred: The Movie

  • Diogenes_Barrel [love/loves]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    people make like people with pre-existing performance careers being in a movie 'doesn't count' because they're 'playing themselves' or some horseshit like that

    nah wrestling is a different fucking medium, guy goes on sets memorizes his lines & produces satisfactory performances, he's a fuckin actor. there's many many many 'just-an-actor' people who flounder in unfamiliar & poorly directed/written roles, and to Cena's credit i can't even recall him being bad in anything, even if he hasn't put out a Prestige Drama

    • D3FNC [any]
      ·
      2 years ago

      How can anyone watch Randy Macho Man Savage and think oh he's always like that. This is a man's authentic personality.

      They're actors. They're all actors. It's choreographed.

      • Diogenes_Barrel [love/loves]
        ·
        2 years ago

        i think the live elements and acrobatics make it a bit different from film acting so i wouldnt expect any wrestler to be a shoo-in for any screen production

  • Joker [none/use name]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    He was great in Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, the HBO spin off show he starred in

  • Theblarglereflargle [any]
    ·
    2 years ago

    In the few movies I’ve seen him in (Suicide squad, blockers, train wreck) he steals the show.

  • TreadOnMe [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Ordinarily I'd say 'no' but I thought he did a fine job in 'Peacemaker', with him probably delivering the best performance of the group.

  • BGDelirium [he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    No John Cena cannot act

    Yes, I am still irrationally angry at his bland, All-American, won too often baby face character that stunk up WWE programming for well over a decade with corny, lame promos and mediocre in-ring action.