NFL quarterback Joe Kingman (Dwayne Johnson) has a great vision for himself.He’s a one man show.In his world there is an ‘I’ in team. His over confidence, lack of showmanship, may just deny his team the desired championship ring…unless he starts learning some valuable life lessons (maybe an 8-yr old can teach him).
Kingman is the envy of every man and the desire of every woman.He’s nearing a potential championship, on a brink of a $25m advertisement deal; life is good. The last thing he needs is to be visited by an eight-year old girl claiming to be his daughter.
In the 1990s one of Hollywood’s greatest action heroes, Arnold Schwarzenegger, decided to shed his action image for the police comedy “Kindergarten Cop”.This surely increased his exposure to family audiences, likely creating a softer image for the action hero. More recently another tough guy, Vin Diesel, shed his muscle flexing for the comedy “The Pacifier”; the result was frankly embarrassing.
In “The Game Plan” it’s the Rock’s turn, or should I say Dwayne Johnson (as he has requested to be called for some reason, despite the world knowing him by his wrestling nickname) to show his softer side. In the past we’ve seen Dwayne in those mediocre to intolerable action flicks: “Doom”, “Walking Tall”, “The Rundown”, and “The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian”.In “The Game Plan” The Rock repeats his formula of mediocre.
What we have here is exactly what one might expect from a film about an eight year old girl introducing herself to her famous father…it’s a mediocre family-oriented effort, fluffy, feel-good, offering those “cute” moments via it’s charming child actor.Surprisingly, despite how these efforts normally execute, “The Game Plan” manages to have some charm, a few occasional smirking moments—this can be credited to a solid Dwayne Johnson and his adorable much younger co-star. While the two leads might share some on-screen charm, we unfortunately can’t note those same compliments to the supporting cast: Kyra Sedgwick (“The Closer”) is a bimbo in an over the top performance as a greedy agent, Roselyn Sanchez, while likable, is merely eye candy, and the remaining crew, mostly composed of the team, suggest NFL players are brain dead engines running on command.
“The Game Plan” is just another “Big Daddy”, “Mr. Mom”, and “Three Men and a Baby” effort with a few exceptions…slightly different dialogue and the likable Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson.If looking for cute “The Game Plan” just might meet those needs.It’s targeted for family viewing so you get what you expect.
