Reality and Fantasy Collide in Central Intelligence
When reports made the broadcast rounds about the Orlando shooter and his earlier years, The Washington Post found information that stated that in high school he was bullied as overweight then slimmed down and became a beefcake security guard.
Does that sound familiar?
But unlike the tragic reality, viewers of the new action comedy, “Central Intelligence” learn that Bob (Dwayne Johnson) went from extra padded bullied and embarrassed patsy to a muscle bound CIA operative.
Flicks are in development for years before they hit the screen. No way someone could have altered Bob’s fictional teen years to coincide with the Orlando massacre.
Ironically, this has occurred previously. Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas and Jack Lemon starred in “The China Syndrome” which opened March 16, 1979, twelve days before the Three Mile Island accident. The film told of a utility covering up flaws in nuclear reactor and a melt down occurring. After unintended publicity, the movie went into a wider release. It was nominated for numerous Oscars including best acting (male and female) and best screenplay. Also, it was nominated at the Cannes Festival.
The nuclear industry originally objected to it as “character assassination.” They ate those words.
An incident similar to the one in the film had occurred near Chicago, but the picture’s strong acting rivals a documentary style.
Described by classmates as an overweight bullied and troubled teen, the Orlando shooter also endured teasing due to his racial status i.e. Afgan descent.
The Post quoted a high school classmate as stating, in part, “He was just one of those guys that people wanted to bully because he was a pushover. He’d try to get a seat [on the bus]. Couldn’t get a seat. Someone would slap him on back of head. He’d try to joke and laugh and make fun of himself to get the attention off of himself. But it didn’t work.”
After high school, he hung out at the mall with some openly gay friends. During that time he used “chemical juice” to go from six foot and overweight to go from an arm length of twenty to 40.
“The kid bulked up so fast and so quickly … that it was like a puny little kid turning into the incredible Hulk,” the Post wrote.
Author’s note: “Central Intelligence” is an action comedy. It does not involve any other relation to the Orlando massacre other than the fictional character traits, as described. Neither religion nor sexuality are mentioned.