Cinema audiences will forgive an inherently stupid action film almost anything, providing it is entertaining.

An explosive-laden bus defies the laws of gravity to leap across a 50 ft gap in an elevated highway in Jan De Bont’s Speed: impossible yet exhilarating.

An invading alien race, far more technologically advanced than our own, is thwarted by a computer virus uploaded from the hero’s laptop in Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day: laughable yet crowd-pleasing.

12 Rounds, the latest overblown adrenaline rush from director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger), would be afforded the same leniency if it didn’t take itself so seriously.

Certainly, it doesn’t help that the film’s hulking lead star is better known for his acrobatics in the WWE wrestling ring and delivers lines in monotone as if he is reading them off prompt cards.

However, Harlin and screenwriter Daniel Kunka carry on regardless, pitting a cop against a mad man in a series of preposterous challenges, which include halting a runaway tram.

If only 12 Rounds winked at the audience, just once, to let us know it is in on the joke.

New Orleans police officer Danny Fisher (John Cena) and partner Hank Carver (Brian White) become involved in the FBI stakeout of psychopath Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen).

After a frenetic chase on foot, Danny apprehends Miles and is inadvertently responsible for the death of the suspect’s girlfriend and accomplice.

‘Officer Fisher, I’ll remember you,’ warns the criminal mastermind ominously.

One year later to the day, Miles breaks out of jail to wreak revenge on the man he holds responsible for taking away the one thing he held dear.

‘You took from me what can never, ever be replaced.

Now I’m going to take from you,’ chuckles Miles just before he kidnaps Danny’s girlfriend, Molly (Ashley Scott).

To save his sweetheart, the muscular cop – now promoted to detective – must undertake a series of games against the clock.

With partner Hank providing back-up, Danny is compelled to break the law to keep Molly alive, while Miles’ FBI pursuers – special agents George Aiken (Steve Harris) and Ray Santiago (Gonzalo Menendez) – try to muscle in on the operation.

12 Rounds is a series of accomplished action set pieces flimsily glued together by the battle of dull wits between Danny and Miles.

Most stunts are second-hand: the tram sequence and an escape from a plummeting elevator car both conjure fonder memories of Speed.

Cena looks like he can handle himself in a brawl but he grapples unconvincingly with the limp dialogue in Kunka’s screenplay.

Gillen thankfully tries to inject his villain with a modicum of theatricality, refusing Danny’s request to release the hostage because, ‘I’m afraid if I let Molly go, you won’t play the game.’ And where’s the fun in that? Apparently not in Harlin’s film either.

• Release Date: Wednesday 27 May 2009
• Certificate: 12A
• Runtime: 107mins