The Pacifier

the one line review:

vin diesel as a babysitter

the overview

OhhhK, where to start. I couldn't have had a lower expectation of this film, I really couldn't, but the reason I rented it was simply because I had to see Vin Diesel play a "normal" role - i.e., one where he's not just in it because he's got big muscles and can kick people in the teeth.

the plot:

Vin Diesel is the Navy SEAL who is assigned to protect the family of a recently murdered professor while some other people take the widow away to try and find the thing he was working on. Of course the kids are riotous little shitbags who are forever causing trouble and Vin has no experience with kids, so has to figure it all out and lalalala. Whilst stopping the people who keep trying to break in. Easy.

the verdict:

So predictable, so obvious, so following the same script that every other film like this has ever done. And so enjoyable. You really have to be in the right mood, which for me, was having had about 4 hours sleep in about a week, on top of the beer and wine, and the general inability to move away from my couch... but it was enough. The film starts with the set up, where Vin displays his military capabilities. Yawn. But fortunately, the scene is short - just the right length. They don't waste time on it, which is ideal.

The rest of the film centers around Vin learning to cope with the family of which there are 5 kids. They all have their different facets, which Vin has to adapt to. And it's done very well, really charming, and even as the inevitable happens (i.e. he rises to the challenge, and the kids, who hated him to begin with start to really like him) you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside and it works nicely. It even has some moments where you're laughing out loud, not to mention the Wrestling coach who is a total whackjob.

So yeh, it's not a good film, but it's a film you really shouldn't be afraid of watching. There's nothing new here, it doesn't break any new frontiers, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. (It is a chick flick by the way, so if you want to earn some brownie points, rent it for you and the missus, Vin even gets his shirt off which I don't think any woman would say no to watching. Unless of course it'll make her realise that you look nothing like him without your shirt off, and ends up dumping you, so you become single, as a result of me, in which case, I'd suggest not renting it. Your call.)

come on.. come on!

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