The Game Plan

January 26, 2008

Rated: PG Runtime: 110 min Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

The Game Plan is a Disney family comedy starring former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Those three ingredients generally make us vomit when mixed together. When we think of words like Disney, family comedy and The Rock being mixed together we have flash backs of seeing Hulk Hogan in a tutu. Come to think of it, there’s a ballet class in this movie as well. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
The Rock in The Game Plan

But let’s shake it off and get down to business. So, The Rock plays Joe Kingman. Joe is the all-everything quarterback for the ficitional Boston Rebels pro football franchise. You might say that “The King”, as Kingman calls himself, is the most electrifying performer in football today. He’s also single with one of the most high tech bacheolor pds you’ll ever see. His pad also gives you some incite into the man himself as he has oversized pictures of himself all over and insists upon complete quiet whenever he appears on ESPN, which is quite often. His lifestyle is nightclubs, sports cars, money and hot models.

Now what more does he need? Well, if you’re making a Disney movie, you throw in a 8 year old girl who is so cute she’ll make you puke. Now would this be from “The King” screwing around? No, not in a Disney film, instead he has a daughter he didn’t know of by his ex-wife. Seems they had “one for the road” while divvying up the furniture or something, and she never told him. So old Joe doesn’t know he has a kid til she shows up on his door step right in the middle of the play offs.

It’s at this point that fish out of water hilarity is supposed to ensue. Have you seen the trailer? Well, it doesn’t get any better. Lots of predictable gags and a very predictable story. It’s all very family friendly, and if you have an 8 year old in the house, they will probably howl at it, which is a shame because it’ll keep you from getting some good quality sleep during this snoozer.

We almost feel sorry for The Rock. He actually does a great job with this part. He’s a natural as a jock, and playing a self centered guy like “The King” is also a a piece of cake for him as it mirrors some of his wrestling ring persona. But he also does a great job with some parts of this film that make him stretch, yet he still comes across as a natural. The problem here is the story just flat out sucks,

So the most electrifying man in sports entertainment fails to become the most electrifying on the big screen once again. The Rock can act, he has some natural gifts of charisma, timing and a big athletic body, but he has yet to land that perfect role that let’s him showcase what he can really do. We give The Game Plan 2 stars. If you have a family though, be sure to get a copy for the rugrats to watch on the headrest in the back of the minivan or SUV. Not only will it make them giggle, it’ll ensure we have no desire to tailgate you.

Posted by Billy Bob | Filed Under 2 Stars, DVD, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jacinda Barrett, Kyra Sedgewick, Madison Pettis, Morris Chestnut, PG, Roselyn Sanchez