Viewed in early March 2010
I walked into the theater...and there was nobody else in there! I wondered, is this telling me something? Sure, I knew it would be a terrible movie. Sure, I knew that it would turn out dumb and I'd think less of the Rock for it. But I'd had a tough day at school and I just needed my brain to turn off for a while and feel happy--I figured this was a better idea than watching Avatar again or eating alot of ice cream while watching "Get Smart" episodes.
The movie started out pretty well. It was dumb, yes, but rather clever right at first. Surprise roles by Julie Andrews and a hilarious part by Billy Crystal were definitely high points in this film. (Billy Crystal plays an old codger fairy who pokes fun at everything.) The writing was...let's just say it was one of THOSE Disney films. It quickly resorted to slapstick physical comedy and even brought in tutus, pink glitter, and barking dogs when it seemed as if the story was going into a corner for timeout. There's a secondary plot line about the Rock's character dating a woman with two young children, and the progression of his relationship with the kids is uplifting and optimistic. He learns how to relate to the "angry" preteen son, and the younger daughter adores him. It's an interesting story about building a new family from two broken ones. But that's not what the movie is about.
NEGATIVES:
>>No profanity! :) There are a few places where obscenities are implied, but never said. There are also some harsh words from the Rock's character when, at his lowest point, he says some really mean-spirited things to other people because he's angry and cranky. (And let me tell ya, the Rock is intimidating when he's angry!)
>>I don't remember any innuendos or inappropriate comments.
>>I also don't remember any drugs or alcohol, aside from two or three jokes made about muscle relaxers, "Drinking and flying," and pixie dust.
>>Religion also takes a back seat. Once the Rock's character hears a loud voice; he looks up at the sky and asks, "God? Is that you, God?"
>>Violence takes the form of people falling through windows, off of buildings, through plates of glass, and some rough-and-tumble ice hockey playing. (That's how the Rock's character got his original name, Tooth Fairy--he's famed for hitting other hockey players so hard that he knocks their teeth out--something we get to see in slo-mo unrealistic detail in the beginning of the movie.)
The biggest complaint I have about this film is that it goes sour in the last 20 minutes or so. Some extremely unrealistic things happen, ALL the loose ends get tied up unsatisfactorily, the ending feels rushed, and some characters go back on their word. Consequences are not fully doled out, and the guy gets the girl. If you like watching mindless movies, or just gawking at the Rock without all of his characteristic blood and gore and fighting, this isn't a bad movie. I just recommend Race to Witch Mountain (2009) for that (more clever, more exciting, less pink glittery tutus and tights).
I give this film 1 1/2 out of 6 stars.
So that everyone (including myself) may benefit from it, please feel free to leave your own personal opinion of this film.
Plugged In Reviews
Internet Movie Database
No comments:
Post a Comment