Assuming you’re a college student, Disney’s “The Game Plan” is not for you. But luckily, this is Family Weekend. So if you’re looking for something to do with your mom, take her to see “The Game Plan.” She’ll love it.
“The Game Plan,” from director Andy Fickman (“She’s the Man”), stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Joe Kingman, an egotistical and selfish NFL quarterback who discovers he has an eight-year-old daughter (Madison Pettis) just weeks before the championship game.
As you can imagine, hijinks ensue as the inept football player struggles to adapt to fatherhood while maintaining an athlete’s life in the limelight.
“The Game Plan” is, in a word, cute. It’s cute enough to remind you of classic Disney family films while being a little too cute to watch without your mom or little sister.
Not to mention the fact that the “tough guy with kids” shtick was done a lot better in Disney’s “The Kid” with Bruce Willis or even “Kindergarten Cop” with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Rock seems to be floundering in this film. He plays the quarterback part of the role perfectly, making light of NFL players who take themselves too seriously. But playing a new daddy seems to elude Johnson, as he delivers lines with an unhealthy dose of cheese.
But there are moments between father and daughter that seem sincere, though they are few and far between.
Pettis steps into the role of precocious child like she invented the archetype. Pettis is like this generation’s Curly Sue as she balances a tough-kid attitude with a noticeable vulnerability while constantly looking adorable.
Kyra Sedgwick (TV’s “The Closer”) stars as Kingman’s maniacal and methodical agent, Stella. Sedgwick seems way out of her element, as she plays the character with an unnecessary acerbity. She is also responsible for the film’s only fart joke.
Roselyn Sanchez stars as the attractive ballet instructor that inspires both father and daughter. Sanchez is charming and, while her plot line is predictable, she is lovely enough that you don’t mind.
The real comic relief of the film are the other guys on Kingman’s team. While they are essentially stereotypes (the Dumb White Jock, the Gigantic Black Guy Who’s Really a Softie), they are probably the most endearing and funniest part of the film.
The script is generally uninspired, but not terrible in the slightest. It’s on par with other successful family films like “Cheaper by the Dozen.”
Visually, the film is better than expected. The montages contrasting ballet and football are actually beautiful and the ballet recital will remind many of their own recitals of the past.
So if you’re looking for a movie to see with your friends this weekend, “The Game Plan” isn’t your best option. But if you’ve got family in town, especially younger siblings, “The Game Plan” is right up your alley.
