The Game Plan (2007)

Predictable Family Fun

We have five boys, so I am always on the lookout for movies we can watch together. I want movies that will hold the interest of my younger boys, have enough jokes that my older boys will not be bored, but not be so 'dumbed down' that my husband and I are asleep in the first 30 minutes. Not always an easy task...But "The Gameplan" was close enough. Dwayne Johnson was a pro wrestler, not sure of all the details, but that is a fact that caught my older boys'attention. We all enjoyed him in "The Scorpion King," and my younger boys just thought it looked like a funny movie, and it was. Many of the jokes are recycled from other, similar, films and it is a rather predictable ending, though I was caught off guard by 'the twist.' But it is a sweet story, with a lovely sentiment. It's a movie you can enjoy as a family, and movies like that always rank high in my book. July 21, 2008

Cute...but it tries to hard

One thing I do like about this movie is that has a good concept-probably would have made a decent Chick Lit book. I even think Madison Pettes is adorable, but on a whole, this movie never ceases to be missing something. Johnson does an okay job-not quite an actor but manages not to have that stiff, deer-caught-in-headlights look either on screen. As a woman, I can look at his body for hours. The script didn't know which ingredients to put in here so they decided to put it all in and, on top of that, put too much of it in. I was literally recognizing different scenes having been in other movies. From Jerry McGuire to Pretty woman to even Will Smith's Hitch. There's not one original idea in this movie. And still I didn't totally hate it. Go figure.

July 19, 2008

Stop! Or my Kindergarten Cop teacher will Pacifier you.

Arnie did in Kindergarten Cop, Stallone sort of did it in "Stop! or my mom will shoot" and Vin Diesel did it in Pacifier... a movie where they take a top action star who knows only one thing, and throws a kid or two at them and tells them to stop the action, and become a family man.

This ones story stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson who plays a superstar American football player who thinks about nothing but himself. Then one day a little girl appears on his door step claiming to be his kid he did not know about, and The Rock's life is turned upside down as he discovers what being a father and what kids get up to is about.

The plot is not much, I knew what was going to happen only a few minutes into the movie, but by the time it does come, you do feel all warm and mushy and happy through it.

I haven't been a fan of The Rocks acting career so far, everything I have seen him in has been pretty average. But I have expected he will do something huge that sticks out for him sooner or later. Funnily enough, so far this is it. I'm sure his best movie is yet to come, but for now this one took the Rock away from all that action and guns kind of thing and shows the lighter side of his acting ability.

The little girl, I have no idea who she is, but shes done a pretty good job of acting in this movie. They said in a featurette shes like a 30 year old in a 8 year olds body... nah... shes more believable then that annoying Dakota Fanning and you actually beleive this kids a kid.

The surprising role for me was Kyra Sedgwick. Usually she plays a very sweet and always smiling character, in this one she is the (that word for a female dog) and I almost did not recognize her for a while. It's defiantly a different character then what you usually see her playing.

Overall, it's pretty much what you expect the movie to be, it could have been a bit better with the laughs, but they focused this more as a drama movie with comedy added instead of the other way around. It's a decent family flick, and sure to get bad reviews from those rockin wrestling fans who just want the Rock to go back to sports entertainment.... but there going to have to come to terms with it not happening and see the Rock is now an actor. July 6, 2008

REALLY BAD!........ EVEN FOR THIS SORT OF MOVIE!

OK, Here it comes! I don't even know why I do reviews on these sort of films!?? This movie is so routine that I felt like I had "ESP". Completely riddled with clichés` this movie drags on and on and offers the viewer nothing new and it's just painfully sweet and annoying! I don't mind "heartwarming", but this film is vomit inducing!

The biggest problem in "The Rock" can't act his way out of a paper bag! His earlier film 'Run Down' wasn't bad as action movies go and I think he should stick to that genre. If you want to see a big action hero play the fool watch 'Kindergarten Cop'.

With so many good family movies out there, this one is completely avoidable! Stay Away! June 29, 2008

One of those few clean movies!

Madison Pettis plays a young girl who walks up to her father's door. Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson's door! It's made headlines that Johnson is a father! Everyone is in shock over this news. Meanwhile Peyton (Madison Pettis) has a lot of things up her sleeve for Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson! You'll laugh it out in this movie-let me tell you!

This is a touching movie and it's also one of those few movies where it's "clean". The language is very mild and there are no bad "scenes" in it. This is a great Family movie. Also it's a pretty good football movie too! I definitely recommend this to you! June 26, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...