Johnson is re-teaming with ‘The Smashing Machine’ studio A24 for the new movie, about a young man influenced by a motivational figure with a dark side.

While the second half lives up to the franchise's name with breathtaking action, the first half is a drag of exposition and fails to create a cohesive movie.

The filmmaker, who is finishing up work on the next ‘Avatar’ movie, plans to collaborate with the author on the adaptation, but hasn’t said he’ll direct ...