About a year ago I found myself searching for a New Year’s resolution. Resolutions aren’t something I tend to do, but 2013 seemed like a good year to start. I was fresh out of college, stepping into not only the “real world” teachers had been warning me about for two decades, but the years of my life I had always assumed would be formative. The years in which I would grow from a young man to a regular man. The years that would define exactly who that man would be.
Looking forwards at 2013 from December 2012, it was clear to me that it would be a very important year, one that warranted a very important New Year’s Resolution.
So I decided to watch every one of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s films that came to theaters in 2013.
The 2013 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Initiative.
T2013D“TR”JI proved to be an emotional rollercoaster ride. At times it was hard. At times it was magical. But through it all I persevered. And more than that, Dwayne Johnson prospered.
Forbes recently named Dwayne Johnson the highest grossing actor of 2013, an achievement that is obviously due in some small part, largely, entirely, to a phenomenon known as the “Pony Tricks Bump.” Dwayne, Mon frère, you are welcome.
The proud, inaugural recipient of the Pony Tricks Bump.
Who will ride the Pony Tricks Bump all the way to the top in 2014? Who’s name will be forever immortalized when it is thrust between “The 2014” and “Initiative?” There were many, many contenders. But first, a retrospective.
The 2013 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Initiative became something far larger than the sum of its meager parts, but it started out, and in its heart forever remained, a New Year’s resolution. It was an earnest attempt to better myself, to grow as a person and to learn.
Snitch taught me that the drug laws in America today can be brutally unfair, and that if my son ever gets incarcerated I would be better of letting him rot in jail for the rest of his life, and even better off if I just avoid cooking up the concoction of chromosomes and sin that is a child all together.
G.I. Joe Retaliation taught me that I hate the movie G.I. Joe Retaliation.
Pain and Gain opened my eyes to the damage that can be done when real-life tragedy is adapted into a movie by an obtuse, irresponsible director. It also taught me that the brutal torture and murder of the wealthy is cool, because their money should be mine, because America, right?
Furious Six taught me to enjoy the ridiculous things in life. It taught me that not every moment is profound, that not every conversation is substantial and that not every runway is finite, but that they should all be enjoyed and savored for the gifts that they are while they’re still gifts to be given.
And it taught me not to have my heart set on a Wonder Woman movie.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s year was pretty top heavy. Starting in February 2013 The Rock had a new movie in theaters every month, but from June onwards theaters remained Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-less. In the seven months since Furious 6 was released I’ve spent a lot of time applying the lessons The Rock has taught me to my everyday life and my day to day life has prospered for it.