The Rock: HE doesn’t want to be Gray Davis

There’s something about The Rock . It’s not just his body. It’s not just his exotic looks. It’s not the fact that he can wield a sword with a lot more authenticity than, say, Arnold Schwarzenegger did in his first two action leads, “Conan the Barbarian” (1982) and “Conan the Destroyer” (1984). It’s a combination of all three, plus the fact that he has a feel for comedy.

It’s always a good thing when an action star realizes that he isn’t auditioning for “Hamlet.” Then again, any veteran of professional wrestling should know how to play to the crowd (especially a 32-year-old ex-wrestler born with the name Dwayne Douglas Johnson).

Tonight, all over the country, theaters are showing a sneak preview of The Rock’s new movie, “The Rundown.” The film pairs The Rock with Seann William Scott (of “American Pie” fame) and Christopher Walken, an actor who can pack more in the word “Wow!” than many other actors can in full sentences. In Spokane, it’s playing at AMC’s River Park Square Cinemas at 7:30.

It should be fun. As The Rock showed in “The Scorpion King,” he’s not just following, he’s powering over the same path that Schwarzenegger once did. So let’s just say it: Even after “The Rundown” has faded into the past, The Rock certainly won’t. He’ll be back.

Or is that “bock”?