The Game Plan DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: DVD Features The Rock as Bachelor-Turned-Daddy

Joe Kingman (The Rock) has it all. The narcissistic star quarterback of Boston’s pro football team is the toast of the town surrounded by a bevy of attractive groupies when not performing astounding feats on the gridiron. However, the egomaniacal party animal is forced to rethink his priorities after eight year-old Peyton (Madison Pettis) shows up on his doorstep announced.
For when the spunky stranger announces that she’s his daughter, Joe has to admit to his shocked agent (Keira Sedgwick) not only that he had briefly been married but that he was last intimate with his ex-wife (Paige Turco) about nine years ago. A vindicated Peyton says her mom has flown off to Africa for parts unknown, which leaves her long-lost dad no choice now but to play Mr. Mom.
The fish-out-of-water comedy which ensues revolves around the shopworn storyline featuring an exasperated adult driven batty by the sudden onset of the responsibility of having to be a parent. We’ve seen this theme countless times before, in everything from 3 Men and a Baby to Baby Boom to Big Daddy to Raisin Helen to Daddy Dare Care.
This variation has hapless Joe learning to juggle Peyton’s ballet classes, play dates and bedtime stories with his nightlife and leading his team to the championship. While the outcome of this Disney tale is never much in doubt, fortunately, The Rock throws himself into the role of Joe with enough gusto to make his character credible. Likewise, his diminutive co-star, Madison Pettis, is endearing enough to tug on your heartstrings a tad, and to teach her daddy a big lesson about what really matters.
Formulaic, but watchable.

Good (2 stars)
Rated PG for mildly mature themes.
Running time: 110 minutes
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Bloopers with sportscaster Marv Albert, deleted scenes, interview with The Rock, four featurettes, and more