Amazon.com Vin Diesel is game to soften his tough-guy image in The Pacifier, in which he plays hot-shot Navy S.E.A.L. Shane Wolfe, whose latest mission goes awry when the scientist he's sent to rescue is popped off before he can tell Wolfe where he's hidden some Top Secret software something-or-other. Before you can say Kindergarten Cop, Wolfe is assigned guard duty at the scientist's family home, where he's left with some unruly kids when the widow (Faith Ford) takes off to Switzerland to claim her hubby's safety deposit box under the guidance of Wolfe's superior officer. The trouble with this paint-by-numbers fish-out-of-water kiddie comedy is that Diesel himself is a fish out of water in the movie--he's no comic and is far funnier when he's unintentionally spoofing macho heroics in The Chronicles of Riddick. The film limply throws everything it can at you, including the idea of Wolfe directing a community theater production of The Sound of Music, but is just biding its time until the predictable action climax and hugs-all-around denouement. Vin doesn't look embarrassed, but the supporting cast sure does, especially Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett as a bombastic vice principal and Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham as Garrett's boss and Diesel's sudden love interest.--Steve Wiecking
- Different and unexpected (4)
Personally, I was impressed. I had no idea who Vin Diesel was when I checked the movie out from the library, but I was nicely surprised that the "muscles" actually had brains and culture. The Sound of Music subplot was entirely unexpected, and at the same time very fun. I also liked how the military was given a positive image. Being part of a military family, I loved how the most successful people in the movie had previously been in the Navy. I had issues, however, with the mom character. It would seem that someone who had just lost their husband, and was stuck with a house full of children, would be a little less perky. But I suppose we all deal with grief in our own way. - The Pacifier (DVD) (3)
Shane Wolfe (Diesel) is a top Navy SEAL assigned to protect the family of a top secret scientist (Donovan). While Mom (Ford) is away helping with the case, Shane has to watch their five kids--rebellious 16-year-old Zoe (Snow), sulky teen Seth (Thieriot), precocious 8-year-old Lulu (York), a couple of rugrats, a duck and a Romanian nanny (Kane). Soon Shane's over his head in chaos, with frequent visits to the school principals (Graham and Garrett).
After opening with a big action sequence, we pretty much know that there'll be at least two more: one in the middle to remind us of the threat and one at the end to tie up loose ends. And there's not a single thread left untied. Including the duck. This is such a heavily structured script that there's no doubt at all about what will happen, so we're left to enjoy the details. And at least there's a lot of goofy fun to be had along the way. It's not particularly clever or original, but it's lively and energetic and sometimes just a little inspired.
The three older kids turn out to be superb actors--all have strong scenes that show surprising depth for this kind of movie. And they prove to be adept on-screen foils for Diesel's muscle-man act. Diesel wisely avoids hamming it up, allowing the filmmakers to poke gentle fun at his beefy physicality (on the other hand, the gratuitous scene in which he walks around the house in nothing but a towel would, in real life, spark a lawsuit of Jacko proportions). There's not nearly enough of Kane; and the extremely game Garrett is only on screen to be humiliated time and time again, including one scene that's surprisingly mean-spirited. This is by no means a classic action comedy, but if your gold standard is Kindergarten Cop, you'll love this! - THIS MOVIE WAS AWSOME!!!!!!! (5)
personnally i liked this movie just becausev of vin hes so great in every movie and i just love him.! - I've Gotta See This! (5)
Many of the reviews below have me convinced (particularly the positive ones) that I should really see this movie the next time I'm in a "family film" mood. Luckily, that's the kind of guy I am. I've got this movie on order and will definitely put it in my "when I have a family, we'll watch these" stash.
Can tell by the cover that Shaq Diesel finds himself in uncharted terriority: supervising children! Ha! Should be funny. - LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!! (5)
I love this movie and so does my daughter and my parents. When it came out in the theaters and I saw it the first time I fell in love with it and went to it several more times taking everyone I knew who would go, and they all loves it! It is funny, well written, and well performed. I think the actors all did an excellent job in it and Vin shows he is just as good at making a family/kids movie as he is at making the tough guy films.