'I Go To the Ring:' WCW's Sting in 'Shutterspeed'

To help fill the gap between Episodes of Let's Go to the Ring (cheap plug) and to celebrate Sting's Birthday, I watched his big Film Debut- Shutterspeed.  Made and/or released in 2000, the Film was a test run for him as a Movie Star.  He's clearly not Dwayne Johnson, so we know how that went.  It's also possible that this was a Contract Bonus/Incentive for Sting.  I mean, Hogan got paid for wearing nWo Shirts in public at non-wrestling events, so it's not impossible.  In any event, Sting was 'injured' in a story line and took time off to do this, as well as other things (like apparently welcome a new kid).  This was made for TNT and exists in this weird TV Movie limbo.  Someone clearly owns it.  Every copy around is right from a recording (probably on VHS).  There is no DVD release I can find.  It exists online and has for years.  Nobody seems to want to take ownership/credit for it.  I guess I'm good here.  The Story involves two Cops, one camera and some bad guys.  If you are looking for something unique and 'outside of the box,' look elsewhere.  This is pretty stock TV Movie stuff all around, from the basic Plot to the fact that it was shot in Vancouver.  Does Sting elevate it?  To find out, read on...

Sting is a Cop.  He works in Narcotics.
Get used to his face without his iconic make-up- if you can.

Earlier, a mysterious man is chased and escapes with a camera.  He ships it to Sting before he is captured.

Conveniently, Sting calls the man later to ask about said camera, sealing his fate.

Meanwhile, Sting is engaged to Daisy Fuentes (naturally!) and has bad dreams that are actually flashbacks to a past event.  More on that later.

The guy with the camera originally is killed and we learn the big twist- he's Fuentes' Brother!

At least that is the only Brother drama here...

Oh right- this thing.

So Sting's Brother is now also a Cop, but they don't get along.
Naturally, said Brother gets put on the case, so they must work together.

Symbolism!!!

Yeah, the drama involves their dead Dad.

Fuentes is kidnapped for a trade with the camera...since the bad guys don't just go after Sting.

Sting goes alone, but things go wrong when the Cops- led by his Brother- show up.  Enjoy this only bit of physicality from Sting...for some reason.

We get our Emmy Moment as Sting and bro make up after we hear the whole story of a Mexican Stand-Off gone wrong.  Sting even cries on cue!

To make a long story short, they learn that the bad guys are all about smuggling in fake bills/other stuff.  They stop them.

Sting is caught by the villain, but his Brother redeems himself for the stand-off and the day is saved.  Also Sting gets married to Fuentes.  The End.

A pretty basic Film that didn't do all that much.  To be fair, what was I expecting?  This is a Made for TV Movie by TNT.  It stars Sting.  It has no DVD Release.  It is not on official Streaming anywhere.  How good it have really turned out?  I watched this with Bob online- thanks for that, stupid pandemic!- and we both were kind of like 'Eh, it was a Movie.'  Sting has a pretty natural presence, but he's forced to play so grim and angry here.  It's a weird use of someone like him, who is known for letting his personality shine through.  Granted, his Crow Sting persona was brooding, but that didn't last forever.  Plus, let's be fair, that was 2 years before this Film.  The biggest issue here is just how poorly they use Sting.  With his general look, he could easily pass for a still-alive Brandon Lee...only without the kung-fu or general action fun.  Sting doesn't really fight anyone in this Film- why cast him then?  I get that he might want to do more IN ADDITION TO THAT, but why have none if it at all?!?  This could have starred any number of people- be it Brian Bosworth or Lance Henriksen- and not changed much.  Hell, he doesn't even do something simple like a Hammerlock.  So disappointing really- this was a missed opportunity.  Judged on its own, the Film isn't bad.  It just isn't especially interesting or good either.  To put it as a bad joke, in Soviet Russia, Film is Film...

Next time, I go back to my original plans.  I just couldn't let a Birthday go un-celebrated in this case.  Stay tuned...