We Want John Cena Hot And Funny, But Not Like This. Not Like This.

Pro wrestler John Cena broke through in comedy as a delightful and burly surprise in Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck. From there, he began popping up in bit parts in Daddy’s Home and Sisters. Then came the brilliant R-rated romp Blockers, where he was a hilarious co-lead opposite acclaimed comic actors Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz. And now, at long last, Cena’s a headliner in his own comedy, Playing with Fire. But if you were looking for a movie where Cena could star while being hot and funny, it looks like that wish got monkey pawed.

Check out the trailer for Playing With Fire:

Playing With Fire is a family comedy brought to you from Andy Flickman, the director of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. It teams Cena, who’s been crushing it in R-rated comedies, with Deadpool’s Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) and Key and Peele’s Keegan-Michael Key. Yet, inexplicably it gives us this fluffy nonsense, where exaggerated sound effects and face-mugging are meant take the place of jokes. There are pratfalls, flares, farts, and a cringe-inducing cover of “Ring of Fire.” I guess that’s what Nickelodeon calls comedy?

This looks cheap, stupid, and terrible. But hey, making a tame and lame family-comedy is clearly part of the tough guy guide to mega-star success. Remember Vin Diesel’s The Pacifier?

Or how about Dwayne Johnson’s The Tooth Fairy?

So, don’t sweat Playing With Fire. John Cena will be fine. This too shall pass.

Playing With Fire opens November 8.