THE PACIFIER (a review)

So this was a surprise hit comedy for Vin Diesel, best know for action movies like PITCH BLACK, FAST AND THE FURIOUS and XXX. It also co-stars Lauren Graham, who was brilliant as the star of a tv series (GILMORE GIRLS) but in movies she is the go-to actress for girlfriend/sidekick (BAD SANTA, EVAN ALMIGHTY, THE PACIFIER)

The story: Shane Wolfe (Diesel) is a Navy SEAL who is assigned to protect the children of the wife of a dead scientist while she and Wolfe's captain go to Zurich to find her husband's secret project called GHOST. While they do that, Wilfe has to deal with the kids and their school and girl scout troops and other domestic stuff. The kids rebel, but eventually they are attacked by spies who are after GHOST. Now the kids and Wolfe bond as he helps them with their lives and they search for GHOST, trying to get it before the spies.

Yeah, the story is pretty dopey. It's not horrible, but it one of those cheesey move ideas. It's like they wanted to do KINDERGARDEN COP and just took everything and made it bigger (instead of a cop how about a Navy Seal?) But that's okay. It means that if you hear the idea you probably know if you'll like the movie or not because for what it is it's pretty good. There aren't any great moments, but there are a lot of good moments and no really bad ones (although Diesel's acting and seeing Graham relegated to such a lame role were painful), and there was one nice quiet moment when Diesel realizes what he has missed by not being around a family. If you liked PAUL BLART, MALL COP ten you'll probably like this movie too.

*** RECOMMEND ***

**** RECOMMEND