‘Pacifier’ a winner for all ages
March 16, 2005
I know what you&re thinking.
Action star Vin Diesel starring in a Disney film? It&s difficult to even fathom the muscle flexing, fighting prone star of films such as &Fast and the Furious& and &A Man Apart& in a comedy. But a Disney comedy nonetheless? Now that is something to see.
In &The Pacifier,& Diesel plays Navy SEAL Shane Wolfe, assigned to protect the five children of an assassinated scientist who was working on vital government secrets. An elite Navy member, Shane thought he had experienced the most terrifying and fiercest duties 8211; until he tackled baby-sitting.
It started out as a 48-hour job. The children&s mother had to go overseas to unlock her husband&s safe, with the hopes of discovering his last and most dangerous project, the Ghost. For help, she left Shane an eccentric, but otherwise kind Romanian nanny. But when the nanny quit and the safe overseas refused to open, Shane&s 48-hour job turned into a two-week mission filled with laughter, excitement and surprises, not to mention a few good fight scenes to show Diesel&s talent.
The movie is a great mixture of all elements that form a good flick. The storyline runs smoothly and will keep all ages entertained. While Shane is in the household, he is in search for the computer program, The Ghost, which holds top secret information. Of course, Shane is not the only one in search for the Ghost and he must protect the kids, and the missing computer program from the mysterious ninjas who are also in search of the Ghost.
Though Diesel is the biggest name in the cast, the other players, especially the child actors, help to carry the film. Oldest child Zoe, played by &American Dreams& star Brittany Snow, is on the brink of failing driver&s education and turns to Shane for help to broaden her driving horizons. Son Seth (Max Theriot), suffers humiliation and embarrassment at the hands of his wrestling coach, because he is afraid to partake in what he really wants 8211; acting. Shane not only shows him how to stand up to his wrestling coach, but also helps to direct his theater debut. Then, there is young Lulu (Morgan York), who learns her own fair share of defense moves from her baby-sitter. As always, there must be some romantic lead. This comes from &Gilmore Girls& star Lauren Graham, who plays the principal of the kids& school.
Overall, I would say this movie is a must see for all ages. It appeals to not only children, but also teenagers and adults. There&s enough Disney to satisfy the kids and make it a hit for years to come, but there&s also enough action and humor to let the adults know they didn&t waste ten bucks for a night out.
And let&s face it 8211; watching Diesel beat up the bad guys is always fun.