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Game Plan, The
Walt Disney Pictures


6.3

based on 23 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 29 votes
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FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG for some mild thematic elements

Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kyra Sedgwick, Roselyn Sanchez, Morris Chestnut, Madison Pettis, and Gordon Clapp

The Game Plan tells the story of rugged superstar quarterback Joe Kingman, whose Boston-based team is chasing a championship. A "serial bachelor," Kingman is living the ultimate fantasy: He's rich, famous, and the life of the party. But this dream is suddenly sacked for a loss when he discovers the 7-year-old daughter he never knew he had--the product of a last fling before parting years ago with his young wife. Now, during the most important time in his career, he must figure out how to juggle team practice and dates with the newfound ballet classes, bedtime stories, and dolls that come with his daughter. Equally perplexed is his hard-edged mega-agent, Stella, herself without a parental bone in her body. Despite the often hilarious misadventures that come with being a new father, Joe discovers that there's more to life than money, endorsements, and thousands of adoring fans: the love and care of one very special, small fan is the only thing that matters. (Walt Disney Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Comedy \| Family/Kids
WRITTEN BY:	Audrey Wells (story) Kathryn Price (& story) Nichole Millard (& story)
DIRECTED BY:	Andy Fickman
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: January 22, 2008 Theatrical: September 28, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	110 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

San Francisco Chronicle G. Allen Johnson

The two best things about this logic-challenged, predictable and overlong (110 minutes!) film are The Rock's performance - surely he's one of the more likable people in the movies, and here he handles physical sight gags with aplomb; and the parallel disciplines of football and ballet, which provide a way for father and daughter to understand each other.

The New York Times Matt Zoller Seitz

The movie is so likable that it glides over its many plot holes... The film’s direction, by Andy Fickman, is raucous but never crass, and the affable Mr. Johnson is committed to every moment.

Austin Chronicle Josh Rosenblatt

Like some sentimental fool, I allowed Johnson’s good-hearted buffoonery and Pettis’ overpowering sweetness and Millard and Price’s unwavering belief in the healing power of love to get the better of my senses and travel straight passed my brain to my heart.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

It's painless, especially if you have a small child in tow, and the Rock, bless his heart, acts like it's all new to him. The star should do more comedy - he's got quick reflexes and a face that lends itself to cartoon double takes, and he's not afraid to look completely ridiculous.

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

A throwback to the days when Disney would recruit second- and third-tier stars to stroll through indifferently written, modestly produced comic fluff that served as family entertainment.

Variety Joe Leydon

Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is the most valuable player here, revealing impressive comic chops and megawatt charisma even while serving as a human punchline for many of the pic's predictable sight gags.

Los Angeles Times Gene Seymour

Pettis is adorable, but she pushes the cuteness dial well past one's tolerance level. Still, if you've got small ones yourself, they'll probably enjoy the messes Joe and Peyton make together. They may also wonder why it takes so long for all the movie's messes to get cleaned up.

Film Threat Stina Chyn

An amusing and timely distraction.

Washington Post Mike Mayo

Follows familiar formulas and characters, both brightened by a bit of wit and good performances from the two leads.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

At least The Game Plan does have Johnson, whose innate charisma will make it easier for adult viewers to endure the film without ruing the decision to make a family outing to the multiplex.

TV Guide Ken Fox

All that charm is wasted in careless scenes that don't make much sense and the whole thing feels slapped to together with chewing gum and spit.

Entertainment Weekly Scott Brown

Having tamed one muscled man-child (Vin Diesel in The Pacifier), Disney sets its sights on The Rock. He preens winningly in The Game Plan.

LA Weekly Luke Y. Thompson

Johnson’s a good actor, but it would take the ghost of Laurence Olivier to convince us that a grown man could legitimately fall for this brat.

Chicago Tribune Geoff Berkshire

If Steve Martin (“Cheaper by the Dozen”) and Eddie Murphy (“Daddy Day Care”) can’t make these PG-rated assembly-line comedies any fun, what chance does The Rock have?

USA Today Claudia Puig

Game Plan plays like an average sitcom that drags on. This sort of film shouldn't clock in at more than 90 minutes. There are worse ways to spend a few hours, but expect more predictability than laughs in this good-hearted, mindless entertainment.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

It's a squeaky clean pre-John Hughes, pre-Farrelly brothers throwback to an era where the words "Disney film" meant something: a movie free of crotch slams, gross-out gags, and tittery innuendo.

Empire Simon Braund

Even The Rock's immense charisma cannot save this predicatable fare.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jennie Punter

The Game Plan, created as a vehicle for Johnson, is a family comedy heavy on syrup and low on laughs.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Director Andy Fickman seems to have thrown everything into this artificial comedy, in the hopes that something might stick. Almost nothing does.

New York Post Kyle Smith

Apart from a heart-tugging plot twist, some lesson learning and more random football talk ("no more buttonhooks in the kitchen"), that's about it. Oh, except for the scene in which Kyra Sedgwick - who plays Joe's agent - farts. Be sure to update your résumé, Kyra.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

It's a complete by-the-numbers daddy-day-care movie that doesn't have a genuinely enchanting moment or shred of inspiration in its overlong running time.

Portland Oregonian Staff (Not credited)

Kyra Sedgwick is turned into a caricature of a sports agent. "NYPD Blue" grad Gordon Clapp gets one line of dialogue. And Morris Chestnut is pushed out to make room for one more "ain't she cute" moment.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Almost every note in this insipid comedy is strident or false, from the child's prodigious talent for deception to the jock's chaperoning her and her classmates at a Corolle doll boutique.

The average user rating for this movie is 6.3 (out of 10) based on 29 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mel L gave it a7:
At the end of two hours (especially if you have young girls in the house) you won't feel like you burned off brain cells. Dwayne Johnson could've phoned it in and got a check for his time, but instead goes through the whole film looking like he actually enjoyed the acting process. This is a decent family film, much better than Disney's recently released, abysmal Snow Buddies.

[Anonymous] gave it a3:
By the time it came out on DVD, I forgot it ever existed. That sums it all up. I don't hate it, or love it. I nothing it.

Brenda M. gave it an8:
Very good and very funny. The rock is great in this movie. This is a must see

Christian P. gave it a7:
This movie is fun to watch and it's very entertaining too. First they put Vin Diesel in a kids movie and now The Rock I wonder who's next. But overall this movie is worth watching for all ages heck even a baby could enjoy this movie.

Clint H. gave it a9:
Typical Disney movie, but at least it's good clean fun. A winner.

Alex P gave it a10:
You people who say this movie sucks can shut up, the rock...well rocks and this movie was great. I loved it when he was sedimental about losing his daughter.

Ken C gave it a5:
Fun to watch - not much there in substance - then again I wasn't expecting any. I thought it could have had a better script - but I went away smiling and feeling good. More than I can say for some recent critically acclaimed films.

Game Plan, The Walt Disney Pictures

Game Plan, The
Walt Disney Pictures