THE GAME PLAN

Director: Andy Fickman
Stars: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Madison Pettis, Kyra Sedgwick, Roselyn Sanchez, Morris Chestnut
Year: 2007
Rating: PG

I sat down, on a Sautrday night, to watch this film with my sister and her boyfriend (he'd rented the DVD) - full of trepidation, because I like Dwayne Johnson but knew this was a Disney movie. After seeing what Disney did to Vin Diesel's career and film roles, I was afraid of witnessing the same disaster with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

While no doubt this film has "Disney" stamped all over it - cutesy kid, slapstick visual gags, The Rock ogling for the camera as his life is turned upside down, and even the Disney-patented can-see-it-coming-from-a-mile-away "Awe!" ending ... there's still something about this movie that was kind of nice to watch.

Dwayne Johnson plays Joe Kingman, a pro football player in Denver who is having the best season of his life. His popularity off the field is at its zenith, and on the field he's about to lead his team to their first championship ever, at last. Joe's been wanting his championship ring for a long, long time, and football career IS his life. On the side he leads an ideal bachelorhood, too - amazing apartment, beautiful women, and buddies/teammates who pretty much worship him.

One ring of the doorbell changes everything, for when Joe opens that door he meets 8-year-old Peyton (Madison Pettis) - the daughter he never knew he had. It seems Peyton's mother has just left the country for work, and has dumped Peyton on her father to care for, for one month. Consummate bachelor Joe Kingman denies the responsibility - but ultimately has no choice but to let Peyton stay with him ... which, in true Disney fashion, turns his life and career upside down.

Dwayne Johnson, at first kind of annoying and overacting in the film, warms to both the role and his innate acting talent fairly quickly. Pettis is pure Disney cute-kid, and does a good job as Peyton. The supporting cast is what helps make the film work, though, as well - Kyra Sedgwick is hilarious as Joe Kingman's greedy agent with dollar signs for eyes, Roselyn Sanchez beautiful and warm as Peyton's ballet teacher - and even Morris Chestnut adds warmth as Joe's teammate ... the married man with kids who's been teased for years by Joe, and now gets to help teach Joe, instead, how to be a better dad.

This one is okay. Smarmy, yes. Predictable, yes. Cutesy - GOD, yes. But it works, probably because of Dwayne Johnson, 'cause no matter how hard you try - you just can't dislike him. And that charm is what makes him the movie star he may just become. *** - Reel Cool