John Cena on his leap from wrestler to film star
John Cena battles blazing infernos and family chaos as a strait-laced fire superintendent in Playing With Fire. GEORGIA HUMPHREYS hears why he enjoys doing film comedies, and how this latest character has really resonated with him
JOHN CENA is a man who can laugh at himself. That comes across not only when you meet the wrestler-turnedactor in real life, but also in his latest film, Playing With Fire.
The family comedy sees the 42-year-old American, who made his WWE television debut in 2002, play uptight but lovable fire superintendent, Jake Carson.
And it involves “really fun, laugh-outloud gags that make us look ridiculous”, he says – going against his role in the professional wrestling world, as “the guy who saves the day”.
“After seeing what I’ve done for 15 years, to be able to sit down and see that mystique broken down, at my expense, for the fun of the viewer, I think it’s funny,” notes the former world heavyweight champion, who was born in Massachusetts.
“And I’m comfortable enough with who I am to do it; I don’t have to look tough or act a certain way or project a certain image. I’m comfortable in my own skin. And if I can put a smile on someone’s face while I make a fool out of myself, I’m happy with that.”
In the movie, Jake runs a crew of dedicated “smoke jumpers”, whose job is to use helicopters to fly into forests in California and tackle blazes.
His whole life is his job. That is, until he and his comical comrades – Mark (Keegan-Michael Key), Rodrigo (John Leguizamo) and Axe (Tyler Mane) – rescue three kids from a house fire.
The gang take full-of-attitude teenager Brynn (Brianna Hildebrand), little brother Will (Christian Convery) and baby Zoey (Finley Rose Slater) back to the fire station to look after them until their parents arrive, where chaos ensues.
We’re talking poop gags, soap gags, and, yes, diving into fire stunts...
“I enjoy the fact that most of the action is meant to get a smile and a laugh,” suggests John.
“I’ve come from a world where a lot of the action needs to be serious and impactful. Then you take this fearless group of smoke jumpers and put them through action which is meant to make people laugh. “And I really think that’s the heart and soul of the film, being able to watch with everybody and just have a fun afternoon at the movies.”
John has been busy carving a career in the film industry in recent years.
There have been comedies (notably his star turn in Blockers), kids animations (he voiced the title role in Ferdinand) and a Transformers spin-off (Bumblebee, in which he played the bad