Christie finds himself between 'The Rock' and a hard place

(CNN) – Aiming to promote state pension reform while having a little fun, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie released a flashy faux movie trailer – and then abruptly yanked it just hours after its YouTube debut on Tuesday.

When asked by CNN's Jake Tapper why it was inexplicably removed, a spokesperson for Christie joked, "it was too much pain for The Rock."

A source said Christie's office was actually forced to remove the video after Hollywood attorneys phoned to discuss its use of film clips.

Titled “No Pain, No Gain,” the nonexistent summer blockbuster trailer featured explosions, car chases and even a cameo by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson using previous clips – the likely source of controversy.

The title was also a play on “The Rock's” 2013 Paramount flick “Pain & Gain.” Tracked over the action was a dramatic Christie proclaiming, “The looming crisis is clear. We can no longer stand around and say, ‘It’s not a problem. Don’t worry about it.’”

The in-house produced trailer seemed to promote a series of town hall-style events Christie will host across the state to address what he deems an "impending fiscal crisis” from the growth of public pension and health benefits and the borrowing needed to service them.

Christie’s dramatization of the pension reform fight comes after vetoing proposed Democratic tax hikes to fill a nearly $3 billion state budget gap. The governor is seeking to reduce contributions to the state's public workers' pension funds by $2.4 billion, a move staunchly opposed by the Democratic-controlled state legislature. Public employee unions are also challenging this proposal.

Christie's office re-released the video, without Dwayne Johnson, Wednesday.