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rock goes family film
The Game Plan movie review
by rick grant    rickgrant01@comcast.net
B+ Rated PG 110 min

      In this Disney family movie, Wayne “The Rock” Johnson gets star billing as the vainglorious Boston Rebels’ quarterback Joe Kingman. However, pint-sized Madison Pettis as Peyton James steals his thunder as the precocious eight-year old girl who turns Kingman’s world upside down. She is a rising star with gobs of acting talent and a knack for comedy.
      Although the movie is written to Disney’s predictable formula, it’s 110 minutes of family fun with plenty of laughs. Johnson shows his skill at comedy, working well with Pettis to pull off some hilarious scenes. The truth is, this little girl Pettis is just so adorable as the counterpart to Johnson’s bodybuilder physique and toothy grin. They truly make an endearing duo.
      Joe Kingman is a typical swinging NFL star bachelor, playing the field and enjoying time with his buddies. Kingman’s frat-house pad has all the electronic toys and gadgets that any fun loving multimillionaire could dream of having. He drives an expensive sports car and his ego is bigger than the stadium where he leads his championship team, the Boston Rebels.
      One day, out of the blue, his daughter Peyton shows up at his door with her luggage. Of course, Kingman is flabbergasted that he even has a daughter. The bright little girl tells him that her mother is away in Europe on a business trip and she is supposed to stay with her father. A long-lost daughter could sure put a crimp in his freewheeling lifestyle, but he reluctantly takes her into his home and tries to find out what the hell is going on. Meanwhile, Peyton makes herself at home.
      Since taking in Peyton, Kingman’s social life has drastically changed, and it doesn’t take long for the press to find out that the biggest star in the NFL has a new long-lost daughter living with him. Kingman must adapt quickly to this drastically changing situation, as he now has to worry about getting her to dance class and looking out for her welfare. Kingman is still clueless about parenting, but as time goes on he’s getting the hang of it. At first, he’s a terrible father, but his agent, Stella (Kyra Sedgwick), gets involved and spins the story to her and Kingman’s benefit.
      Meanwhile, Peyton is a bright little girl who quickly learns how to manipulate her dad. He enrolls her in a ballet class headed by Monique (Roselyn Sanchez–Without a Trace) who recognizes Peyton’s talent and bends the rules to take her into the class. To promote Kingman as a single “ballet dad,” Stella trades in his sports car for an SUV, much to his chagrin.
      Gradually, though, Kingman is beginning to realize that having a daughter is an awesome responsibility and it’s far more important than money or fame. For the first time, Kingman is thinking about someone else other than himself. This changes everything for him and makes him a better person and football player.
      Despite its flaws, this is an ideal picture to take the kids to see, and parents won’t be bored with it. Johnson is appealing and adept at getting laughs.

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