Movie Review for The Game Plan (2007)

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Review #534 of 365
Movie Review of The Game Plan (2007) [PG] 110 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.00
Where Viewed: AMC Theatres Flatiron Crossing 14, Broomfield, CO
When 1st Seen: 22 September 2007
Time: 7:00 pm
DVD Release Date: 22 January 2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer

Soundtrack: order the CD below

Directed by: Andy Flickman (She's the Man)
Screenplay by : Nichole Millard (debut) • Kathryn Price ("The Mole") based on story by Michole Millard, Kathryn Price, and Audrey Wells

Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
The Rock (Gridiron Gang) • Madison Pettis ("Cory in the House") • Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer") • Roselyn Sanchez ("Without a Trace") • Morris Chestnut (The Cave) • Hayes MacArthur (Are We Done Yet?) • Brian J. White (Daddy's Little Girls) • Jamal Duff (The Marine) • Paige Turco (Invincible) • Tubbs (debut) • Gordon Clapp (Flags of Our Fathers)

Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Click to read the spoiler points for The Game Plan
With few offerings for kids between the animated powerhouses of the summer and the winter holiday season, Walt Disney's® The Game Plan starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a fictional Boston football team's illustrious quarterback, Joe Kingman, who suddenly finds himself a single father of a love's to dance and use her Bedazzler® to jewel-encrust everything little girl named Peyton (Madison Pettis). Joe Kingman is used to living his life his own way with every little thing in its perfectly assigned spot so it can all be controlled by his gargantuan remote control tablet that runs everything in his luxurious condo in a Boston high rise.
"…wonderful family entertainment…just enough comedy and drama to tickle the funny bone and tug at the heartstrings."
He's used to having the guys over to watch a basketball game. He's fond to speeding around town in his gull-winged Mercedes and being the apple of everyone's eyes, especially the ladies. He's wickedly known for throwing super-sized parties where the special lady guests get designer gift bags on the way out. One thing that's evaded him, however, despite his prowess at the quarterback position, is the championship trophy. Something has been keeping him from winning it all. Lots of people speculate, but no one has the guts to tell Joe, that it might just be because the only thing keeping his ego and head any larger is that he has to fit in a helmet every day for practice. So, it's pretty easy to imagine that he's got little if any tolerance, patience, or understanding for or of a new little person in his life. Just days after her arrival with proof of her claim to be his daughter, he carelessly abandons her at his new nightclub / restaurant way after a little kid's bedtime. His city-status makes this front page news and gets him in plenty of hot water with his agent, Stella Peck (Kyra Sedgwick) who has to do the damage control. Basically, now, he has no option, he must weave Peyton into his life and fast or risk losing everything. His sponsors are going to drop him like a hot potato if he's not the perfect 'Joe' they have paid to have for their spokesperson.

Well, it wouldn't be a Disney® film, at least not in the traditional sense of the term, if Joe didn't eventually find himself loving being a dad and being so grateful to have such a wonderful daughter. This doesn't happen over night, though. It takes some pretty heavy interventions and support from his friends and colleagues as well as Peyton's ballet teacher, Monique Vasquez (Roselyn Sanchez). Turns out that Peyton is quite a dancer, and Ms Vasquez is quite persuasive. She convinces Joe that he will play the role of an enchanted tree in the ballet recital. He has not idea what he's in for when he agrees so as to get her off his back about showing up on time and caring for Peyton properly. You'll have to read the spoiler points if you want to know more about the plot or how the film ends.

The Game Plan is wonderful family entertainment, though parents and guardians should know there is plenty of mischief they might not like copied, a tragedy to deal with, and a near-death complication—the latter two of which could be too much for young children. Beyond these things, though, the humor is creative and energetic and the drama is Kodak®-moment classic. The casting director found a near-perfect cast starting with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson who owns this role and character. He's a big guy willing to take some risks and proves himself a versatile actor with a huge heart. Reportedly, he's working on his comedic side, and this film gave him ample opportunity to develop it further. He handily disproves the actor's adage that you should never do movies with kids or dogs. He handles both in this film with veteran gloves. Young Madison Pettis blossomed too in the film bringing just the right amount of stubbornness and humor. Clearly, she's having fun the entire time knowing that her character's going to be in a lot of trouble. Kyra Sedgwick borrows a page from the Glen Close book adding a tinge of wickedness to her role as Joe's agent. She's more preoccupied with big monetary deals than his personal life, so she's bound to be disappointed by the 'new' Joe Kingman. Among his teammates one can find only the touches of stereotypes as the film works very hard to show the diversity of the bunch from tip to toe. And, a dog named Tubbs plays Spike, the beloved pet that begins to soften Joe to Peyton's presence in his life.

Director Andy Flickman takes this Kathryn Price / Nichole Millard screen play and turns The Game Plan into one of the best early autumn 2007 films for the entire family. There's nothing that fancy here, just a really good story, with some nice twists and gender bending quotients, along with just enough comedy and drama to tickle the funny bone and tug at the heartstrings.

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Other Projects Featuring The Game Plan (2007)
Cast Members
The Rock • Madison Pettis • Kyra Sedgwick
Roselyn Sanchez • Morris Chestnut • Hayes MacArthur
Brian J. White • Jamal Duff • Paige Turco#VALUE!
Director
Andy Flickman
Writers
Nichole Millard • Kathryn Price

DVD
VHS
Review-lite The Game Plan (2007) [max of 150 words]
Director Andy Flickman takes Kathryn Price and Nichole Millard's screen play, The Game Plan, and turns into one of the best early autumn 2007 films for the entire family. There's nothing that fancy here, just a really good story, with some nice twists and gender bending quotients, along with just enough comedy and drama to tickle the funny bone and tug at the heartstrings. Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the fictional Boston football team's illustrious quarterback, Joe Kingman, who suddenly finds himself a single father of a love's to dance and use her Bedazzler® to jewel-encrust everything little girl named Peyton (Madison Pettis). The two must learn to love each other and fast because Joe's career may depend on it, and Peyton has nowhere else to go.
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