Introduction
Action films occupy an essential role in the world because they reflect cultural and historical issues that are present in society. Often, they are a response to some previous events and situations, and it is suitable for Pain & Gain. This movie depicts three bodybuilders, Lugo, Doorbal, and Doyle, who decide to kidnap a rich man, Kershaw, to demand ransom for him. Even though the plot describes the three athletes as evil characters, an in-depth analysis makes it clear that there is essential reasoning behind their actions.
This action film presents a changing attitude to what characteristics were excepted from men in the 1990s and those that they should have in the modern world. Thus, Pain & Gain explains that physical strength is not the leading feature of masculinity and demonstrates that economic and cultural peculiarities of the world can make people violate laws to achieve their goals.
Heroes or Not?
To begin with, one should explain why the three bodybuilders should not be considered villains. Firstly, it is necessary to determine what positive features they have, and a single conversation with its mise-en-scène allows the audience to feel sympathetic toward the men. It relates to the situation when Lugo and Doorbal are talking in a gymnasium. On the one hand, the characters show that they are tired of their life, and they want to achieve success.
Thus, the spectators understand that the characters’ initial intentions are good. On the other hand, the US flag that is behind the men creates the feeling that the two are average citizens who are integral parts of society. This mise-en-scène contributes to discourse about gender and sexuality because it shows that even the most robust Americans experience significant difficulties in their lives. This element demonstrates that everyone can have weaknesses, irrespective of their gender, which allows the audience to feel sympathetic toward the men.
Secondly, further analysis demonstrates that bodybuilders are controversial figures. It is so because Kershaw, their victim, is considered an intolerable person. This fact becomes evident during short episodes at the beginning of a film. For example, it refers to those situations when Kershaw abuses his migrant worker or when he describes other people as “homos and housewives.” Thus, this person has an adverse impact on a community, which makes the characters act.
That is why Lugo, Doorbal, and Doyle are anti-heroes because they want to kidnap him to both save an American society from a harmful member and to obtain financial benefits. Bell-Metereau supports this idea by mentioning that some positive characters only appear when a community is shown “victimized, powerless, soft, decadent, corrupt, and even in need of punishment” (240). Thus, the athletes violate the law to achieve a larger good, which creates sympathy for them among the spectators and shows the influence of challenging economic conditions.
Finally, even separate parts of the film under analysis have the potential to address an essential cultural issue that refers to a role or image of a person in society. It relates to a situation when Doyle is reading a Christian journal when Kershaw is sitting chained to a chair in a neighboring room. This single-shot creates a feeling that everything is relative in the modern world. If a person is familiar with religion, it does not mean that they cannot commit harm.
The opposite is also valid because if an individual has a negative image in society, it does not denote that they cannot create some positive outcomes. This effect with Doyle is essential because it demonstrates that various people and phenomena can have both positive and negative features at the same time. Consequently, the film teaches the spectators that any prejudices should be eliminated from the modern world and that separate actions cannot describe a person.
Sturdy Body, Fragile Spirit
In addition to that, the film uses multiple elements to address an issue of masculinity and what can be hidden behind it. Firstly, it refers to the bodies of Lugo, Doorbal, and Doyle. The fact that they have huge muscles is an apparent reference to the 1990s when cinematographic heroes with extreme physiques could cope with any problems and defeat any enemies. The film under consideration, however, demonstrates that the world has changed because it is not sufficient now to be a bodybuilder to achieve successful results in life. Thus, Pain & Gain presents a crisis of masculinity according to the strategy mentioned by Donovan.
Here, the film “first glamorizes male strength, then shows its anachronistic shadings in the modern world and asks if it is worth reproducing for future generations” (Donovan 142). It means that the movie addresses a phenomenon of fragile masculinity.
Secondly, one can stipulate that the masculinity of the heroes is fragile because they need external phenomena to support it. It refers to the fact that the bodybuilders need weapons to kidnap Kershaw, irrespective of the fact that the latter is weaker than each of them. Thus, once they have bought the arms, they feel excited and powerful. This effect becomes evident when the three are depicted against the cloudy sky, and the soundtrack is playing.
As for the music and its lyrics, they intensify the feeling that these athletes will manage to bring their dream to reality. The emphasis on this moment is specifically placed to show that outside elements can provide individuals with the feeling of their superiority, which, however, can have harmful outcomes. Thus, the movie tries to demonstrate that internal power is more significant for individuals.
Thirdly, one more example of a masculinity crisis is found during a scene when Lugo, Doorbal, and Doyle are trying to kidnap Kershaw for the first time. They are wearing camouflage and moving in the darkness like members of a SWAT team. However, this bravado disappears as soon as the three notice that there are numerous guests in Kershaw’s house. This situation is essential to understand that bodybuilders are not so masculine as they appear. Thus, the information above addresses a crucial cultural and social issue for Americans. It is so because the given scene shows that many modern people pretend to have some knowledge or qualities irrespective of whether they possess them. Consequently, the movie explains to the spectators that it is not reasonable to invest in developing outside features without regard to internal qualities.
In addition to that, the action film has numerous scenes and shots that indicate the fragility of the bodybuilders’ masculinity. One of them refers to the scene when the three decide to kill Kershaw by exploding his car. Thus, the shot depicts the men and the burning vehicle behind them. Once an explosion happens, Doyle gets scared and shudders with fear, which has a dual meaning. On the one hand, it creates a humorous effect when the biggest athlete is the most coward.
On the other hand, it demonstrates that strong moral qualities do not always accompany physical development. The movie also shows the essential difference between the inside and the outside. Thus, the film addresses a severe problem in the modern world that numerous men only try to meet typical stereotypes by drawing significant attention to their muscles.
Finally, Pain & Gain stipulates that the conditions above can lead to tragic consequences when masculinity finally cracks. It happens in Doorbal’s house when Frank Griga, a wealthy businessman, calls Lugo an amateur in response to the offer to establish a joint business. This single word makes Lugo savage, and he accidentally kills Frank. This scene was used to demonstrate that it is impossible to pretend to be robust for all time.
At some point, this play will come to an end, and such an image will get broken. As has been mentioned above, numerous people in the modern world make efforts to create an inadequate reputation of themselves, which can imply harmful outcomes. Thus, the film teaches the spectators to be their true selves. In this case, no words or actions of others will manage to send individuals over the edge.
Conclusion
It is possible to note that Pain & Gain addresses the issues that are essential in the modern world. On the one hand, the film indicates that every person has a controversial nature. Even though an individual violates the law, they can do it to achieve useful outcomes. On the other hand, the film refers to the topic that physical power is not the leading characteristic feature of masculinity. If this phenomenon is based on muscles, however, it can crack because of external threats, and the movie demonstrates that this scenario can have harmful consequences.
Works Cited
Bell-Metereau, Rebecca. Hollywood Androgyny. Columbia University Press, 1993.
Donovan, Barna W. Blood, Guns, and Testosterone: Action Films, Audiences, and a Thirst for Violence. Scarecrow Press, 2010.