<P> British critic Mark Kermode described the film as "grotesquely inappropriate" and "every bit as pumped up and steroidal as the appalling characters it is attempting to portray". Scott Foundas of Variety writes" "the violence mostly lands with a sickening thud, which is fitting, one supposes, but also ultimately numbing ." Philip French writing for The Observer said of the violent black comedy that he "rather enjoyed it" with particular praise for Ed Harris . Referring to the movie as "a Bay botch job", Rolling Stone gave the film 1 / 2 star out of 4, noting: "he (director Bay) once claimed he wanted to make a small, personal film that would reveal the real Bay . And, I'm here to report, that Pain and Gain is that film . It's dumb, shallow, deeply cynical and creatively bereft ." </P> <P> Francisco Alvarado's Miami New Times article, "Pain & Gain: Where the Real - Life Sun Gym Gang Characters Are Now" (April 4, 2013), details the actual crimes, the real - life gang members' sentences, and the characters' post-trial experiences and current status . </P> <P> Additionally, the Florida State Commission on Capital Cases publishes and regularly updates the trial summaries, court information, and information about the offenses, criminal sentences, and post-trial legal and prison developments for defendants . This information is cross-posted with that of the Florida Department of Corrections, Prison Offender Network, which posts regularly updated Inmate Population Information Detail and the Death Row Roster . Details from those sources pertinent to the Sun Gym gang are summarized below: </P> <Ul> <Li> Adrian Doorbal (DC #M16320, DOB: December 21, 1971, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County Case #95 - 17381 - B); death sentence received August 31, 1998 </Li> <Li> Daniel Lugo (DC #M16321, DOB: June 4, 1963, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County, Case #95 - 17381C); death sentence received August 31, 1998 </Li> <Li> John Mese (DC #M15699): "Mese was indicted on October 2, 1996 (Case #95 - 17381 - F) for the kidnapping, extortion, and murders of Griga and Furton and the kidnapping and extortion of Marc Schiller . A jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment; however, the judge set aside the convictions pertaining to the Griga / Furton crimes . On July 20, 1998, Mese was sentenced to 56 years imprisonment for the kidnapping and extortion of Schiller . Mese appealed and the State cross-appealed the sentence to the Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District . On 06 / 19 / 02, the DCA ruled that the trial judge improperly set aside the two RICO convictions and ordered a new sentencing hearing to be conducted on those counts . On January 15, 2003, Mese was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering . In 2004, Mese died in prison from a stroke ." </Li> <Li> John Raimondo (DC #198195): "Raimondo was indicted on October 2, 1996 (Case #95 - 17381 - I) on one count each of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, First - Degree Murder (Furton), Kidnapping (Furton), and Attempted Extortion . The State nolle declined to prosecute all but the kidnapping charge, and Raimondo was convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment for the crime ." </Li> <Li> Jorge Delgado (DC #198219): "In return for testifying for the State, Delgado was sentenced to two prison terms of 15 and 5 years for his role in the murders of Griga and Furton and the attempted murder of Schiller ." </Li> </Ul>

What was the movie pain and gain about