THE GAME PLAN
Solid Gold Soft Rock Cafe, With A Bedazzled Sweetness
PopcornReel.com Movie Review: "The Game Plan"
By Omar P.L. Moore/September 28, 2007
The King And I: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Joe Kingman and newcomer Madison
Pettis as Peyton in "The Game Plan" with bulldog Tubbs as Spike, which opened
today across the United States and Canada. The film is directed by Andy
Fickman. (Photo: Ron Phillips/Disney)
Andy Fickman's "The Game Plan", which opened across the U.S. and
Canada today, is a delightfully entertaining Disney film that mixes comedy,
sports, family themes and drama in such an effective way that it will be hard
for even the most die-hard cynics to loathe it. It is for these reasons
that the film is almost two hours in length, atypical by Disney standards where
PG or G-rated fare is concerned.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson continues his run of acting form after "Gridiron Gang"
with another good performance as the self-centered bachelor Joe Kingman, the
quarterback of the NFL football-type outfit Boston Rebels. Joe, who never
says no to the ladies or to a challenge, and models himself after Elvis Presley,
is about to face the biggest challenge of his life: the daughter he never knew
existed. Peyton, adorably played by the excellent newcomer Madison Pettis,
who looks so much like the young Bernadette Peters here, shows up one day at
Joe's plush pad (impressive production design by David J. Bomba) and has a nice
little surprise for him. The initial relationship between Joe and Peyton
(in NFL Football terms, there's no accident about their first names) evokes the
same relationship that Ryan O'Neal and his daughter Tatum had in Peter
Bogdanovich's "Paper Moon" years ago.
When Joe is in a jam, count on the Cruella DeVil-like Stella (Kyra Sedgwick) to
bail him out. She is Joe's agent, and like all the cliches about agents
that one can imagine, Stella has more than Joe's success in the Rebels'
potential championship game in mind. "The Game Plan" also mixes the cute
interplay between Joe and Peyton with the Rebels' run through the football
post-season playoffs, and family affairs in a sub-plot not quite smoothly
executed by screenwriters Nichole Millard & Kathyrn Price, about Peyton's
mother. There's even time for song and dance, with Joe crooning Mr.
Presley's ballad "Are You Lonesome Tonight" in one moment mid-way through the
film, and later donning a ballerina pose in a session with Roselyn Sanchez as
Monique, Peyton's ballet dance instructor. "The Game Plan" is ambitious,
to be sure, but does not overstay its welcome, even though it comes close.
Mr. Johnson (formerly known solely as "The Rock") broadens his horizons here,
with his burgeoning acting talent and versatility. We know he has charisma
and emotes. We also know that he has a remarkable body, for he isn't shy
to show off his muscular physique and largess of stature. If you've got
it, flaunt it, and Mr. Johnson does -- and he also has the acting chops to
match.
Joe's teammates playfully chide him (including the actor Morris Chestnut, who
plays his wide receiver), about Joe's new addition, and one of Joe's
girlfriends-a la carte, Tatianna (Kate Nauta) isn't happy about Peyton's
presence either. Peyton is smarter than all of the adults combined in this
movie. She also has a fondness for bedazzling things, as audiences will
find out when they watch this heartwarming gem, delivered just in time for the
opening month of the NFL football season, which is in full flow right now.
There are an assorted number of cameos from big names in NFL football and NBA
basketball, plus well-known sportscasters and sports writers in the American
press contingent. All of them are having a very good time here, and why
not?
Mr. Fickman's lively laugher of a movie is not entirely predictable, with some
twists and turns, sprinkled with melodrama, and will appeal to a wide-cross
section of audiences. Not only is the film a winner, it is sure to be a
big success at the box office
"The Game Plan" is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for
mild thematic elements. The film's duration is one hour and 50 minutes.
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