'Game Plan' sticks to formula
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, January 20, 2008
You know you're old when you remember TV shows like "Banacek," "Barney Miller" and "Hawaii Five-O."
You're really old when you can say you've already seen the films in the John Frankenheimer collection.
And ancient? That's recalling Hugh Hefner when he only had one girlfriend, not three.
If you fit any of these categories, this is your week. They're all entries in the new DVD category.
"The Manchurian Candidate" is one of the Frankenheimer selections and now, in this heated political season, it bears watching. Note how Angela Lansbury pulls the strings as the candidate's mother. Then watch as she brokers a big deal. You'll never view the caucuses quite the same again.
Hefner shows up in "The Girls Next Door," the reality series about his strange, um, family.
The one big film of the week, though, is Disney's "The Game Plan."
It was promoted so heavily last year it seemed like it had a long run. Instead, its trailer just ran forever.
Playing by the Disney rules, director Andy Fickman makes sure Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson looks a) macho, b) silly, c) paternal, d) loving and e) triumphant before the final game.
Change the lead character from football star to attorney and this just as easily could be "The Shaggy Dog." It's pat, it's predictable and, surprisingly, it's fun -- at times.
Johnson plays the quarterback of The Boston Rebels -- a team destined for the Super Bowl. His home is a bachelor's shrine. Hugh photos adorn the walls; trophies fill every shelf. (Even his motto, "Never say no," is used in decorating.) When an 8-year-old girl (Madison Pettis) shows up and tells him she's his daughter, he's shocked. Somehow he forgot he was once married and may have had a close encounter with his ex-wife. When the girl, Peyton, shows him her birth certificate, he's determined to do the right thing. Never mind that mom is in the Sudan tending to business. Johnson's Joe Kingman doesn't ask questions. He just takes her in and, thanks to an aggressive agent (Kyra Sedgwick), realizes she might be an asset.
Whenever Kingman tries to return to his wandering ways, Peyton pulls him back. She bedazzles his game-winning ball, puts bubble bath in his pool-like tub and forces him to take her to ballet class (where, guess what? he's roped into performing). She also impresses his teammates, which makes the inevitable exit resonate.
Pettis is a typical Disney Channel charmer. Call this "The Suite Life of Peyton Montana" and you wouldn't be far off. Supporting actors (particularly Sedgwick) mug like they're playing to a convention of mimes; animals get the requisite number of reaction shots.
Johnson, however, is pretty darn good. He sings Elvis tunes throughout (and he's not bad); he's good at mixing emotions in a film that merely calls for broad ones.
Only the screenplay fumbles. It suggests a star athlete would accept paternity without doing a full background check. It lets Peyton's mom exist in the shadows and it tosses illness around like so many souvenir footballs.
When the Super Bowl game arrives (of course), Fickman doesn't worry about travel plans or traffic snags. He gets the girl to the stadium in time to provide the inspiration (and resolution) necessary to wrap things up.
The perfect divorced dad/daughter film, "The Game Plan" doesn't worry about rules, just plays. When the clock runs out, it's clear this isn't a well-crafted story. It's a very expensive highlight reel featuring two pretty good performers.
Also this week:
TV: "Banacek," season two; "Barney Miller," season two; "ER," season eight; "Girls Next Door," season three; "Hawaii Five-O," season three; "Hustle," season four; "Odd Couple," season three; "Simple Life Goes to Camp"; "Swamp Thing," season one and complete series; "Torchwood," complete series; "Wonder Pets"
Film: "Adrift in Manhattan"; "Blonde Ambition"; "Fatal Contact"; "The Hunting Party"; "Missionary Man"; "Moliere"; "Saw IV"; "Sex and Breakfast"; "Sydney White"
You're really old when you can say you've already seen the films in the John Frankenheimer collection.
And ancient? That's recalling Hugh Hefner when he only had one girlfriend, not three.
If you fit any of these categories, this is your week. They're all entries in the new DVD category.
"The Manchurian Candidate" is one of the Frankenheimer selections and now, in this heated political season, it bears watching. Note how Angela Lansbury pulls the strings as the candidate's mother. Then watch as she brokers a big deal. You'll never view the caucuses quite the same again.
Hefner shows up in "The Girls Next Door," the reality series about his strange, um, family.
The one big film of the week, though, is Disney's "The Game Plan."
It was promoted so heavily last year it seemed like it had a long run. Instead, its trailer just ran forever.
Playing by the Disney rules, director Andy Fickman makes sure Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson looks a) macho, b) silly, c) paternal, d) loving and e) triumphant before the final game.
Change the lead character from football star to attorney and this just as easily could be "The Shaggy Dog." It's pat, it's predictable and, surprisingly, it's fun -- at times.
Johnson plays the quarterback of The Boston Rebels -- a team destined for the Super Bowl. His home is a bachelor's shrine. Hugh photos adorn the walls; trophies fill every shelf. (Even his motto, "Never say no," is used in decorating.) When an 8-year-old girl (Madison Pettis) shows up and tells him she's his daughter, he's shocked. Somehow he forgot he was once married and may have had a close encounter with his ex-wife. When the girl, Peyton, shows him her birth certificate, he's determined to do the right thing. Never mind that mom is in the Sudan tending to business. Johnson's Joe Kingman doesn't ask questions. He just takes her in and, thanks to an aggressive agent (Kyra Sedgwick), realizes she might be an asset.
Whenever Kingman tries to return to his wandering ways, Peyton pulls him back. She bedazzles his game-winning ball, puts bubble bath in his pool-like tub and forces him to take her to ballet class (where, guess what? he's roped into performing). She also impresses his teammates, which makes the inevitable exit resonate.
Pettis is a typical Disney Channel charmer. Call this "The Suite Life of Peyton Montana" and you wouldn't be far off. Supporting actors (particularly Sedgwick) mug like they're playing to a convention of mimes; animals get the requisite number of reaction shots.
Johnson, however, is pretty darn good. He sings Elvis tunes throughout (and he's not bad); he's good at mixing emotions in a film that merely calls for broad ones.
Only the screenplay fumbles. It suggests a star athlete would accept paternity without doing a full background check. It lets Peyton's mom exist in the shadows and it tosses illness around like so many souvenir footballs.
When the Super Bowl game arrives (of course), Fickman doesn't worry about travel plans or traffic snags. He gets the girl to the stadium in time to provide the inspiration (and resolution) necessary to wrap things up.
The perfect divorced dad/daughter film, "The Game Plan" doesn't worry about rules, just plays. When the clock runs out, it's clear this isn't a well-crafted story. It's a very expensive highlight reel featuring two pretty good performers.
Also this week:
TV: "Banacek," season two; "Barney Miller," season two; "ER," season eight; "Girls Next Door," season three; "Hawaii Five-O," season three; "Hustle," season four; "Odd Couple," season three; "Simple Life Goes to Camp"; "Swamp Thing," season one and complete series; "Torchwood," complete series; "Wonder Pets"
Film: "Adrift in Manhattan"; "Blonde Ambition"; "Fatal Contact"; "The Hunting Party"; "Missionary Man"; "Moliere"; "Saw IV"; "Sex and Breakfast"; "Sydney White"
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