5.5
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Pain & Gain (2013)
Pain & Gain (2013)
Overview
Daniel Lugo, manager of the Sun Gym in 1990s Miami, decides that there is only one way to achieve his version of the American dream: extortion. To achieve his goal, he recruits musclemen Paul and Adrian as accomplices. After several failed attempts, they abduct rich businessman Victor Kershaw and convince him to sign over all his assets to them. But when Kershaw makes it out alive, authorities are reluctant to believe his story.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Negative
Trans: Negative
Race Swap: Yes
Christianity: Negative
Viewer Rating
5.5
Overview
Daniel Lugo, manager of the Sun Gym in 1990s Miami, decides that there is only one way to achieve his version of the American dream: extortion. To achieve his goal, he recruits musclemen Paul and Adrian as accomplices. After several failed attempts, they abduct rich businessman Victor Kershaw and convince him to sign over all his assets to them. But when Kershaw makes it out alive, authorities are reluctant to believe his story.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
The film critiques the dark side of the 'American Dream' and materialism through the lens of individual moral failure and entitlement, ultimately emphasizing personal accountability and the consequences of criminal actions rather than systemic critiques.
The movie demonstrates significant DEI primarily through its casting, as a traditionally white real-life character is explicitly recast with a Black actor. While the narrative negatively portrays its male protagonists' actions and misguided ambitions, this serves as an indirect critique of certain traditional identities rather than an explicit DEI-driven narrative.
Secondary
The film features Adrian Doorbal, a gay main character, as a violent and manipulative criminal. His sexuality is presented as part of his identity without any affirming context or counter-narrative, contributing to a problematic association of a queer character with villainy and harmful actions. The portrayal lacks dignity or positive complexity.
The film "Pain & Gain" features a transsexual character, Robin Peck, whose identity is largely a source of mockery and crude humor. Her portrayal reinforces negative stereotypes, with jokes often at her expense or related to other characters' discomfort, resulting in a problematic depiction.
The film, based on a true story, portrays Noel Doorbal, a real-life Indo-Guyanese man, as Adrian Doorbal, played by a Black actor. This constitutes a clear race swap. Additionally, Daniel Lugo, a real-life Cuban-American, is portrayed by a white actor.
The film portrays Christianity primarily through the hypocritical character of Paul Doyle, whose 'born-again' faith is easily abandoned for crime and used for self-justification. It also depicts a televangelist's prosperity gospel message being dangerously misinterpreted to rationalize greed and violence, without offering a counterbalancing positive portrayal of the faith.
The film does not feature any female characters engaging in or winning close-quarters physical combat against male opponents. Female characters are primarily in supporting or victim roles, and do not participate in direct physical confrontations.
The film "Pain & Gain" is based on a true story. All significant characters, including Daniel Lugo, Paul Doyle, Adrian Doorbal, Victor Kershaw, and Robin Peck, are portrayed on screen by actors matching the historical gender of their real-life counterparts. No gender swaps are present.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.4
6.3
Critic Ratings
4.9
4.5
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