The Guardian Review
by Tim Voon (winklebeck AT hotmail DOT com)November 19th, 2006
The Guardian (2006/I)
A film review by Timothy Voon
Copyright 2006 Timothy Voon
1 out of 5 stars
Cast: Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, Sela Ward
Director: Andrew Davis
One of the biggest problems with 'The Guardian' is that it doesn't know when to end. This movie drags on and on until it sinks itself into an abyss of over contrived situations with only one goal in mind - to beatify the character Ben Randall (Kevin Costner). In my wildest dreams I would never have imagined that this movie would end with a coast guard becoming a saint. I kinda gagged.
What makes this movie worse is that it stares Ashton Kutcher.
'The Guardian' is a story about the US Coast Guard, men who are some of the bravest in the world. They risk their lives everyday to save the lives of others. Costner is Ben Randall, a legendary (cough) coast guard hero, who after a rescue mishap ends up training junior recruits ie Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) ex swim champ extraordinaire. These big character parts are played by actors with big egos.
I do not think Costner and Kutcher are the best performers to give the coast guard profession the justice it deserves. Especially, when Costner shamelessly uses this movie to promote himself on screen into becoming yet another great 'hero', and Kutcher obediently follows his footsteps like a wide-eyed puppy. I so much preferred Costner as a drunk in 'The Upside of Anger.'
Kutcher is undoubtedly one of the prettiest actors of his generation. He cries beautifully on cue and knows how to flirt with the girls on screen. But when he tries his hand at a real dramatic role, he is unintentionally humorous. He actually looks frightened when he is about to jump out of a helicopter and into the big blue sea. I mean I would too, but I'm not the one portraying a 'Top Gun' life saver on screen. I believe Asthon should schtick to light weight comedies that are more suited to his dramatic range.
If I have been cruel with my review, it may be because I left the cinema feeling that I had wasted 136 minutes of my time on a Sunday morning. Ironically, it was for a charity screening for Australian lifeguards. However, 'The Guardian' did have the affect of making a few kind hearted grannies cry in their seats - those who had not already fallen asleep by the end of the movie.
Timothy Voon
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