If you look beyond the Transformers of his filmography, it’s easy to remember how Michael Bay became a sought after director in the first place - gritty, nose to the grindstone action films like The Rock and Bad Boys 1 & 2.  Filled with kinetic action, sizzling, music video level visuals and all sort of violence and foul language, he was a master of excess - but he’s been stuck in the world of transforming robots ever since. It’s been 10 years since he’s been behind the camera of a true, hard nosed R-rated film, and with the based on a true story bodybuilder crime black comedy Pain & Gain he may have made his best film in as many years.

Based on a series of articles written in the Miami New Times, Pain & Gain is the real-life story of three bodybuilders, who in an attempt to claim their American dream, kidnap and extort a business owner for millions of dollars.  The leader of the pack is Daniel Lugo, played here by a jacked to the gills Mark Wahlberg.  Lugo’s got a checkered past, having served jailtime for a false business deal which fleeced senior citizens, but he found himself on slightly better times, hired by SunGym in Miami, Florida as a full time lead trainer.  There he becomes the trainer of Victor Kershaw (a hilariously scummy Tony Shalhoub), who has a $3 million mansion, owns a Schlotzsky’s Deli franchise, his own racing grayhound, and a cigarette boat, amongst many other successful ventures. In short, Lugo wants what Kershaw has - and instead of the logical idea of working his way to those goals, he decides simply to take what Kershaw has, with violent force.

Joining Lugo in this insane goal is his steroid-abusing gym sidekick Adrian Doorbal (The Hurt Locker’s Anthony Mackie), and a new recruit to the SunGym, the huge, Jesus loving, recovering cocaine addict Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson). They successfully kidnap Kershaw, and over three weeks, torture him, and make him give up literally everything he has - his house, his family, and his deli.  After a botched attempt at murdering him (in one of the movie’s most bizarre, darkly hilarious, and surreal sequences), Kershaw is ignored by Miami police - but becomes the key account of private investigator Ed Du Bois (Ed Harris).  What follows is an insane game of escalation involving murder, horrible attempts to hide said murders, strippers, lies, sex, drugs, violence and yes - a lot of working out.

Michael Bay is clearly having a blast with this film - his camera work, editing and unique setups (he’s clearly a fan of personally mounted digital cameras here) have rarely been this good, and it gives the movie an energy and feel unlike most films out there. It honestly reminded me of Crank at times, and the budget constraints (“only” $25 Million) allow him to focus on the characters. I only wish the actors committed to a shared tone. Wahlberg tries to bring a balance to his serious dramatic and manic comedic personas, and unfortunately commits to neither as Daniel Lugo, leaving a gaping hole as our lead. Mackie is serviceable as Adrian, played mostly for comic relief (there are extensive penis jokes at his expense), but the true revelation in this film is the performance of Dwayne Johnson.

I completely admit an affinity for Dwayne, having been a wrestling fan at his peak and enjoying his acting work thus far, but he’s never been a character so perfect for his skills as Paul Doyle. Doyle in many ways is the dark, sad heart of the film, sort of a Lenny from Of Mice and Men on cocaine.  Mixed between the worlds of an innocent, almost child-like mind, the ability to cause incredible violence, a Superman level physique, an incredible faith in God and yes, a crippling cocaine addiction, the character is all over the map but absolutely riveting. Paul Doyle is reason alone to see the film, and while I truly don’t believe the word “Oscar” will ever be spoken about this performance, I absolutely loved the role and wholeheartedly recommend seeing the movie for Johnson’s work alone.

The film is also peppered with great second-tier actor work, with hilarious moments coming from Rebel Wilson, serving as Adrian’s erectile dysfunction nurse and future wife, Rob Corddry as the owner of the SunGym, and Ken Jeong as Johnny Wu, the infomercial spokesman who unofficially kicks off Daniel Lugo’s crimespree.  It’s a shame that even with all of these positives the final film strikes uneven.

Was it that this real story was too unbelievable, or that the movie never completely gave into its dramatic or lunatic side? Or maybe it was the Michael Bay need to add in unnecessary gross-out moments to an already gruesome tale? Whichever it was, while Pain & Gain is probably a far better movie than you’d expect, it never lives up to the surprisingly great performance of Dwayne Johnson.  Give it a matinee.

Pain & Gain hits theaters on April 26th.