M&F PROFILE THE RO

CFat guys in Speedos. Evil monkeys. Sharing the screen with Arnold. There’s no telling where the conversation will go when M&F speaks to the star of The Rundown. BY MICHAEL BERG

PHOTOGRAPH BY F. SCOTT SCHAFER KMUSCLE-FITNESS.COM 87 RUNNING DOWN LUNCH Run and Indiana Jones, but with more M&F: Noted. M&F INTERVIEW WITH THE ROCK›› Aug. 2, 2:13 p.m., Santa Monica, comedy. In this movie I play Beck, a California: Rock rolls up in front of retrieval expert — another word for ROCK: It goes back to what I said “Lip balm or oatmeal?” ❡ Not a question you’d Shutters on the Beach in his black bounty hunter. He’s ready to get out last time. You remember? “Don’t Cadillac Escalade. On the radio, “Any of the business, but he makes a cheat yourself . . .” Fool Will Do” by Kenny Neal, via the promise to his crime boss to do one M&F: Treat yourself. typically hear asked of a high-profile action star. XM Jazz & Blues station. We head out last job, which is to go down to the ROCK: Exactly. And anyway, that’s toward 26 Beach Café in Venice. Amazon and pick up Seann William why I get the Diet Coke. To balance But then again, the guy seated in the makeup Scott’s character, Travis. [Scott’s most it out [laughs]. M&F: So you’ve been up in famous role to date is Stifler in the chair on this sun-baked Saturday morning isn’t Vancouver filming a remake of American Pie trilogy.] M&F: Any other scenes that the 1973 movie Walking Tall. I get down there to pick up Travis, stand out? Who do you play in that? and things become very complicated. ROCK: One scene that I loved — your average Hollywood type. Fresh off a movie ROCK: I play a special ranger who’s The people that complicate things for Seann and I were hanging upside returning home from war to a small me are Christopher Walken’s down from ropes in the jungle, after set in Vancouver, he arrived in Los Angeles at town. Everything is corrupt now, the character, Rosario Dawson’s character, being snatched in a pig snare. We’re officials, the police department. The trying to escape and these howler 3:30 a.m. via private jet. Hours later, the 6'5", city’s main source of income is a monkeys — the most evil monkeys on casino that’s pushing meth. The earth — jump on us and one . . . well, casino and the whole town are he basically gets a little frisky on my 240-pound WWE wrestler turned actor is basically owned by one guy, played by face. For the record, I didn’t enjoy it. Neal McDonough from Minority receiving final touches for an L.A. Times photo Report. Johnny Knoxville [of MTV’s M&F: You filmed this in Hawaii, Jackass] is also in the film. The story where you grew up. Was that shoot, all in the name of promoting his latest film, is about a guy’s refusal to lie down — at your request? he takes a stand to save himself, his ROCK: Funny story. Peter wanted ❡ family and his hometown. That’ll be to be as authentic as possible, so he The Rundown. From here, he’ll drive to nearby out in the spring. wanted to film on location in the Amazon. It was either there or Fox Studios with Rundown director Peter Berg to We arrive at the restaurant, park and Hawaii. I was telling him, as well as walk in. Rock is greeted warmly at the the studio, I’m all for authenticity, do voiceovers, grab lunch with this M&F reporter door, and we’re led to a table in the corner. but you might want to reconsider . . . The Rock hopes ROCK: Oh, that’s funny. Can I have A man and his son approach the table. to be a part of at a local burger joint, hightail it to an exclusive that? [Referring to a copy of his first “Excuse me, sir, I know you don’t like Wrestlemania XX M&F cover, the June 2002 issue.] being bothered, but my son thinks you’re in March. screening of his new flick, and finish his night cool. I’m wondering if I could introduce M&F: Definitely. All yours. and a bunch of monkeys [that attack] you.” Rock takes the time to talk to them ROCK: I hope this new cover is going me and Seann. Overall, I’m really both, signing an autograph before turning co-presenting a Teen Choice Award with pop to be better. I’ve got the new tat. [The proud of the film. back to me. Rock recently got a tattoo that covers princess Britney Spears. Status quo in a life that’s his left shoulder and upper arm, made M&F: Anything in particular you ROCK: So Peter, the producers and up of Polynesian symbols that like about this character, Beck? the location manager all went down planned by his managers and publicity agents represent his life story.] So the ROCK: What I like about my to scout, and they get robbed by magazine’s changed dramastically this character Beck is his simplistic view guerrillas with AKs and Uzis. By all ❡ year? [Pauses.] Uh, I said drastically on life. Specifically, even though he accounts, every single one of these down to 15-minute increments. Before all that and dramatically, and it came out lives in this underworld, he’s still a guys who went down there should dramastically. Nice. man of his word. When he says he’s be dead right now. transpires, however, he must decide: let the going to get the job done, it gets done. Two things came out of that story. M&F: I’m going to use that. When they returned, I was like, makeup artist finish her work, or eat breakfast? ROCK: Feel free. MONKEY BUSINESS “Okay, where are we going to shoot Rock orders a hamburger, fries and a side now?” They say, “Oh, we’re going M&F: So, let’s talk about your of guacamole. And a Diet Coke. to Hawaii,” and I said, “Exactly.” He chooses the oatmeal — The Rock likes his oats new movie, The Rundown [in Number two, the leader of the theaters Sept. 26]. ROCK: Don’t be afraid to put this in guerrillas was in a Speedo, flip-flops warm, if you smell what he’s cookin’. ›› J. GIAMINDO INC./BY © 2002 WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT ROCK: It’s a mix between Midnight the story. Burger and fries. and a bulletproof vest. And he had

88 MUSCLE & FITNESS November 2003 MUSCLE-FITNESS.COM 89 ROCK: Oh, yeah. I sneak in, hat on, character or not. Every time I go back what I’m eating as well as my ROCK: She’s doing very well. I’m and just make sure people don’t know to wrestling, I always want to do supplementation. I’ve leaned down very proud of the wifey. Oh, by the I’m there. However, I do make sure to something that’s never been done, that even more, and I’m still trying different way, she’s a workout machine, kicking laugh really hard and loud at my jokes. makes sense, and most importantly, training techniques. I’ve been doing a ass and taking names in the gym. can be highly entertaining for the fans. lot of circuits. I’ll switch it up; I’ll do M&F: What’s next up on The I love wrestling. The wrestling upper-body circuits and lower-body M&F: Is she making more Rock’s plate? I’ve heard you may business will always be a part of my life circuits. Or I’ll do [bodypart] splits. I money than you? play a Hawaiian king. in some capacity. I’ve been so lucky and also do a lot of plyometrics, especially ROCK: Almost [laughs]. ROCK: King Kamehameha. He was blessed to be able to do what I’ve done. when I’m at home training with the responsible for uniting all the islands, [Miami] Dolphins and laying the M&F: And how’s your daughter, basically the Braveheart of Hawaii. It’s Rock gets in the car, pops the locks and we smack down on Jason Taylor’s candy Simone? a beautiful story that’s never been told. move back out into traffic. ass [Taylor is considered the NFL’s ROCK: Oh, she’s great. Thank you. Sony’s been great in terms of taking best defensive end]. I can say that She’s 2, and getting bigger by the day. their time and developing it and hiring M&F: How has your weight because he’s my boy. Thank God, she looks like her mother. a great writer. We’re probably a couple training been going? When I work out at the gym, I of years away. That project to me is ROCK: My training has largely typically train by myself. But if I do M&F: Do you foresee a time what Ali was to Will Smith. stayed the same since the last time we train with someone, there’s no better when you let up on the pedal a Other things are sooner. Like Spy talked. [Short 30–45-minute sessions training parter than my cousin and bit as far as your schedule? Hunter with Universal, based on the 4–5 times per week, with a lot of stunt double, Tanoai Reed. [He ROCK: Not really. I love what I video game, which I’m really excited supersets and circuits, reps mostly in pauses.] In case you were wondering, do and I’m blessed to be able to do about. I play Alec Sects in that one. the higher range — up to 21 on some I am bigger and stronger than he is it every day. sets.] It all depends on my schedule. [laughs]. WRESTLIN’ & LIFTIN’ I usually have to get up at 5 a.m. and We pull up to Shutters. The valet is saying We walk back to the car, past police tape train before I go to the set. If I can’t M&F: Your home base is still something unintelligible through the dark that has gone up around a few square get to a gym, they have one on set Miami? window, until the Rock steps out and blocks. Police direct traffic away as police [for me and the crew]. ROCK: Yes, Miami, as well as L.A. recognition washes over the man’s face. He helicopters swirl around a man on a roof, takes the keys without another word. reportedly wielding a gun. M&F: Are your goals a little M&F: And your wife, Dany? Last different now? time we talked, she had left M&F: Rock, thanks for the time. M&F: Rock, you know it would ROCK: My goals are pretty much Merrill Lynch and started her ROCK: Not a problem! You know be good for the story if you went the same training- and diet-wise. I’m own private investment I’m a fan. At the end of the day, I’m and talked that guy off the roof. gaining a better understanding of management firm. still a gym rat. M&F ROCK: You know what would be an even better story? If I walked up there and threw him off [laughs]. DUE TO HIS CRAZY THE LOWDOWN ON THE RUNDOWN M&F: Can we talk some SCHEDULE, ROCK’S wrestling? Like, do you think you’ll return to the ring soon? RELEASE DATE: Sept. 26 of Helldorado and discovers WORKOUTS ARE ROCK: Well, Walking Tall finishes DIRECTOR: Peter Berg Walker isn’t a hardened SHORT AND INTENSE, in a month, then I have press for The CAST: The Rock, Seann criminal, but a young man Rundown as well as the new movie William Scott, Christopher from a prominent family who’s WITH AMPLE USE OF starting, so I don’t have much of a Walken, Rosario Dawson, out in search of a legendary CIRCUIT TRAINING. break. I would love to be a part of Ewen Bremmer, Jon Gries, lost mine, filled with gold and Wrestlemania, but we’ll see. Arnold Schwarzenegger riches. The two cross paths a big belly, a dunlap physique, you M&F: Tell me about Arnold’s (in a cameo appearance) with Bloomocks (Walken), who know? His belly dunlapped over his cameo in The Rundown. M&F: What challenges do you DISTRIBUTOR: controls the town and is also little Speedo. I said: “Let me get this ROCK: Arnold’s cameo was great. think are left for you in the Universal Pictures looking for the mine. Plot straight. Not only did you guys get It gets a laugh from the audience — business? SYNOPSIS: In this action/ twists and turns ensue. robbed, but you got robbed by a fattie it’s something the audience isn’t ROCK: That’s another thing, too. comedy, The Rock plays a in a Speedo and flip-flops? You should expecting. I can’t give you any more It becomes a matter of . . . bounty hunter who goes on PREVIOUS FILMS: have just taken a chance and took a details than that . . . you just have to one last job — to find and bring The Scorpion King (2002; U.S. M&F: Topping yourself? back Travis Walker (Scott) gross $90.5 million); The swing.” If I’m getting robbed, it ain’t see the movie. Kicking ass — ROCK: from the Amazon jungle. He Mummy Returns (2001; U.S. happenin’ from a guy in a Speedo and Ye ah. In film, obviously, the The Rock & Scott M&F: So you’ve seen screenings gets to the small mining town gross $202 million) flip-flops. But the gun thing might roles I play are limitless, whether Connection. change my mind. with a test audience? they’re funny or dark, or I’m the lead GELB IRV ARONOWITZ ©MYLES 2003 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

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