"Game Plan" is typical Disney fare kids will love

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Walking the walk RON PHILLIPS

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January 21, 2008

By J OSBORNE, Editor The Daily Register Mon Jan 21, 2008, 11:36 AM CST

Disney will release Game Plan to video retail and rental outlets Tuesday, Jan. 22. Get it for your kids or grandkids.

Of course, there is nothing original about this film. It is entirely formulaic. This is another tough guy to family guy type movie similar to Disney’s earlier “The Pacifier.”

This release has all the traditional “fish out of water” cliches you can imagine and silly humor that is a staple in all Disney live action films; however, most are forgivable here.

The “fish out of water” element is handled well-enough although very predictable. As the characters grow, it is also quite touching. I thought the humor was of the “hit and miss” variety, but overall, the hits come out on top.

This is a DVD that a father will not mind seeing with his daughter. It will make you laugh. Go ahead, plunk down the rental fee and watch it with your kid — I’m willing to bet that if your kid is younger than 12, you will end up purchasing this movie.

Disney does a service to dancers and athletes alike. Quick-cuts between the football field and the ballet studio illustrate the rigors and grace of both. It shows how the two are not entirely dissimilar, and both are extremely athletic.

Yes, it is painfully formulaic.

Yes, portraying football players as “dumb” is both trite and unfair.

Yes, it is another Disney release with an Elvis soundtrack.

Yes, there are numerous reference to bodily functions that are supposed to be funny.

But the release works. The kids will love it. The DVD is funny, sad, action-filled and musical. What’s not to like?

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Madison Pettis, Kyra Sedgwick, Roselyn Sanchez and Morris Chestnut

The Game Plan

Rating (***1/2 out of *****)

Synopsis (Courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment) Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson scores a touchdown in his first comic leading man role in the family-friendly box office hit The Game Plan, coming to Disney DVD and Disney Bluray Disc on January 22, 2008 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Johnson lends his trademark charm and formidable charisma to the role of Joe Kingman, a pro football superstar who unexpectedly finds himself caring for a precocious young girl played by Madison Pettis. With Kyra Sedgwick as Joe’s workaholic agent and Rosalyn Sanchez as the little girl’s football averse dance teacher, the talented supporting cast also includes Gordon Clapp and Morris Chestnut. Directed by Andy Fickman, The Game Plan puts a hilarious spin on the tough world of professional sports in a comedy delight for the whole family. Both DVD and Blu-ray Disc feature entertaining bonuses, including a pair of very special, and very funny, interviews created in conjunction with ESPN.

High-living Boston Rebels quarterback Joe Kingman (Johnson) finds his world turned upside-down when seven-year-old Peyton Kelly (Pettis) shows up at his door and announces she is his child from a brief early marriage and needs a place to stay while her mother is away on business. For the next month, Joe is suddenly saddled with unfamiliar parental responsibilities like ballet class and homework, while also getting to know his daughter. As he tries to lead his team to a championship season, Joe navigates the rocky shoals between macho man and girly-girl cultures with hilarious and heartwarming results, building to an outcome he never saw coming.

Running time: 110 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG

BONUS FEATURES

• DRAFTING THE GAME PLAN

This behind-the-scenes featurette provides hilarious movie-making insights from director Andy Fickman as well as a look at what goes into the making of a successful action sequence. It focuses on the fine art of choreographing a realistic scene, the challenges that the actors and athletes endure and the unexpected injuries that The Rock sustained. Special attention is paid to the scene in which Joe Kingman falls victim to a career-ending hit—a scene that actually left one stuntman nearly unconscious. Plus, eight-year-old Madison Pettis, armed with her own DV camera, documents her personal experiences on the ballet set.

• ESPN's SportsCenter DVD/Blu-ray™ Exclusive: The King in Search of a Ring Stuart Scott of ESPN hosts a look at fictional star quarterback Joe Kingman, a man who doesn’t know the meaning of the word “share.” The Rock stays in character for interviews that fill in the blanks in Joe’s back story. The cast and crew contribute their thoughts and deleted scenes serve as “archival footage” in an entertaining “biography” of the athlete.

• ESPN's SportsCenter: The Rock Learns To Play QB ESPN’s Sean Salisbury interviews The Rock on how he learned to play quarterback for the movie.

• BLOOPERS WITH MARV ALBERT Exclusive missed lines, blunders, bloopers, gags and more all set to the familiar narration of sportscaster Marv Albert.

• DELETED SCENES An extended version of the uproarious ballet scene and much more, including optional intros by director Andy Fickman.

• PEYTON’S MAKEOVER MADNESS In a set-top feature, help Peyton “redecorate” Joe Kingman’s apartment with fun virtual arts and crafts. Plus, exclusively on Blu-ray™:

• CHALK TALK

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and director Andy Fickman enliven their unique film commentary by drawing “sports booth” style graphics on the screen to highlight their filmmaking experience.

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