The Pacifier

Articles in this Topic Discussions in this Topic

Mar 8, 2005

Paradigm.

In my continuing pursuit of the holy grail known otherwise as a good story I find myself of late frequently being confronted and assailed by critics who take offense to the expectation, the standard I put all films and movies to: Tell me a story. Tell me a good story.

These critics, these would-be censors argue that my expectation, my standard is unrealistic, owing much to the actors who currently dominate the silver screen. According to these cinematic pundits actors nowadays are such they do not want nor require a story to propel them to box office success.

Given the slow demise of the Hollywood Machine over the past decade and the diminishing returns the box office has seen in recent years, such assertions are, at best, foolish, and at worse, ignorant and prejudicial without due cause and merit.

Every actor wants and needs, requires and demands, a good story. Without such what are they doing and what are they?

I leave you to ponder these questions, and while you do consider the following as proof of my determination: "The Pacifier", starring Vin Diesel.

Like Arnold Schwarzenegger Vin Diesel has made a name for himself playing the muscular, macho man, and has decided to try his hand at comedic drama (or dramatic comedy, depending on who you ask). Unlike Ah-nuhuld, who apparently believes he will be accepted in almost any role, Vin Diesel realizes that he must demonstrate and prove himself as an actor first. Especially when it comes roles involving children, pets, and family life.

All within the framework of a good story.

In "The Pacifier" Vin Diesel plays Shane Wolfe, a hard-core, hard-edged Navy SEAL commando, who lives for the thrill of the event. In the pre-titles scenes, for example, he and three other scuba-diving SEALs shoot down a helicopter, do in four gunmen on jet skis, bomb a boat, and successfully, with almost amazing ease and grace, rescue an American scientist named Plummer.

Plummer was kidnapped by Serbians, who wanted his foolproof encryption key for less-than honest intentions.

That he used the names of his children as the password for his locked briefcase, containing relevant information, is, well childish. But allows for the development of the premise of "The Pacifier": Once Wolfe has completed his daring assignment in rescuing the scientist he is then assigned to watch the scientist's five children while the scientist's wife and a Navy intelligence officer travel to Geneva to open his safety deposit box. Somewhat predictably their time away from the brood takes longer than planned, so Wolfe ends up spending more time with them than intended. In doing so, of course, he goes from being a gruff and growly military man to being a lover of kids and pets.

Go To Page: 1 2

The copyright of the article The Pacifier in Film & TV Reviews is owned by James C. Hess. Permission to republish The Pacifier in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.