Karate kid club

Rating: 5/10 (28 September 2015)

Get some The Karate Kid, add some Bloodsport, mix with Fight Club with a dash of Rocky and you have Never Back Down.
Not the most original film but amiable, predictable and silly enough as hotheaded and rebellious Jake Tyler (Sean Farris) who beat up everyone on a football pitch because of a rude comment about his father moves to a new town to help his younger brother play competitive tennis.
However in his first day at High School he is lured into a fight by Ryan (Cam Gigandet) who is aware of his exploits in his previous school as they run a not so underground fight club.
Jake gets badly beaten up by Ryan and befriends Max (Evan Peters), who introduces him to the world of Mixed Martial Arts run by Jean (Djimon Hounsou) a tough trainer who has a golden rule. No fighting outside of the club. However Ryan keeps on taunting him especially as Jake is going out with ex girlfriend (Amber Heard.)
In the climax there is a showdown as both enter a MMA competition.
Its a hokey film, Farris looks a lot like a young Tom Cruise without the charisma. Hounsou is the tough trainer with a tender heart (a cross between Mickey from Rocky and Mr Miyagi.) You know that his no fighting rule is going to get breached. The film has a Fast & Furious type beat with the music and is aimed at a younger crowd. The kind that heal quickly from a good beating.