NBC’s new sitcom Young Rock showcases the life story of pro-wrestler turned actor Dwayne Johnson, aka ‘The Rock.’ The show jumps around four different periods of Johnson’s life, with Johnson playing himself in the series.
But as for if the series is worth watching or not, why don’t you find out?
1. Quick Review
Young Rock (2021)
Air Date: February 16, 2021 Status: Upcoming Season 2 Studio: Universal Studios, Grit & Superstition , Seven Bucks Productions , Fierce Baby Productions No. of Seasons: 1 No. of Episodes: 11
Johnson is known worldwide not just for his many professions but also for his charming personality. It is well portrayed by the actors playing Johnson in different eras first as a 10-year-old ‘Dewey,’ then a teen trying to look rich and get girls, and then a college football player.
The humor is subtle but not disappointing. The anecdotes from Johnson’s life are actually quite interesting and achieve the goal of being relatable to common people. They always end on a humorous or heartfelt note, leaving the viewers quite satisfied.
The sitcom also has an old-school vibe and approach to storytelling. However, it’s pretty likable because of the great delivery and structure.
2. Is It worth Watching?
If you are looking for a light-hearted watch that keeps you entertained, then it is definitely worth watching Young Rock. There is a high chance that you might end up liking it.
The show gives great insight into Johnson’s life back when he was young. There are also heartfelt lessons that you can learn throughout the show. But while it might not be the (mind-blowingly) best show, Young Rock is still a pretty decent watch.
3. Plot
Young Rock hops around different eras from the life of Dwayne Johnson from when he was young. An Adult Johnson is being interviewed by Randyll Park, who plays himself, only as an actor-turned-news reporter.
Johnson narrates anecdotes from his life as he runs for the (fictional) 2032 elections. He talks about his life when he was a 10-year-old kid living with his parents (Rocky and Ata).
The show also hops to when Johnson was a teen high school kid who was so oversized that everyone thought he was an undercover cop. He was obsessed with getting girls (while he helped his family). We also see him when he was playing varsity football for his college.
The show builds up from there. In the present (2032, according to the show’s timeline), Johnson is seen campaigning around the USA in a large cargo truck with his face on the storage; he meets people and tries to talk to them and understand their problems.
3.1 Cast and Characters
Young Rock revolves around four different eras from Dwayne Johnson’s life. At the earliest in the show, Johnson is a 10-year-old kid played by Adrian Groulx. A few years later, he was a teenager who is too large for his age, played by Bradley Constant. Then he was a football player at the University of Miami, played by Uli Latukefu.
Other characters in the story are Johnson’s father, pro wrestler Rocky Johnson (played by Joseph Lee Anderson), and his (aspiring) singer mother Ata (played by Stacey Leilua).
And of course, Randyll Park, playing himself, as an interviewer at a news channel.
4. Final Thoughts & Grade
Story: B
Cinematography/Animation: A+
Acting: A-
Music: A
Direction: B+
With subtle humor and great acting, Young Rock turns out to be a decent watch. I feel that I would have liked it even more if they had dialed up on the humor just a tiny bit. But then again, it’s a personal opinion, so not everyone will agree with it.
Young Rock is available for streaming on Peacock as of February 16, 2021.
5. About Young Rock (2021)
Young Rock (2021) is an American sitcom that narrates the life of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a comical way. The series is developed by Nahnatchka Khan and Johnson himself. The series has received generally positive reviews from critics. In April 2021, the series was renewed for a second season.
As Dwayne Johnson runs for President in 2032 in Young Rock, he takes a comedic look back at his life through his family and youth’s stories, which helped him become who he is. Each episode involves Johnson participating in an interview or other conversation which leads him to flashback to a story from one of three periods of Johnson’s life: as a ten-year-old in Hawaii; as a high school student in Pennsylvania; and as a college student and football player at the University of Miami.
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