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Movies / On DVD / The Pacifier
The Pacifier

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The Pacifier (2005)

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Reviews Counted:126

Fresh:26

Rotten:100

Average Rating:3.7/10

Consensus: Vin Diesel parodies his tough guy image for the family audience, but the result is only moderately amusing.

Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins

Genre: Childrens

Synopsis: Vin Diesel is great as a navy seal turned babysitter in this kid-friendly action comedy. A botched rescue mission (brimming with stunts) results in the death of a scientist and the hospitalization... Vin Diesel is great as a navy seal turned babysitter in this kid-friendly action comedy. A botched rescue mission (brimming with stunts) results in the death of a scientist and the hospitalization of seal team-leader Shane Wolf (Diesel). Once he recovers, he is assigned to duty as a bodyguard for the dead man's family. But even for a seal--toughened to the point of stoniness--dealing with the chaos, smells, noises, and complexities of a large, fatherless family proves to be a heavy challenge. The kids don't like his authoritative ways and they have no problem defying him at every turn. Eventually everybody bonds and while the family teaches him to listen and relax, he teaches them the combat skills they need to succeed in suburban Los Angeles. It's all very funny but the film really works best as a showcase for the range of Diesel; he takes his pratfalls in stride, his character's devotion to military discipline and honor is inspiring; and his bonding with the family is sweet without being saccharine. What's more, he still gets the chance to kick some serious bad-guy butt. Lauren Graham (BAD SANTA) plays the kindly grade school principal and love interest. EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND's Brad Garrett is hilarious as a sadistic wrestling coach. There's also a crotch-biting pet duck, ninjas, sewer-diving, a troop of kung fu-fighting girl scouts, and the hilarious "Panda Dance." [More]

Starring: Vin Diesel, Lauren Graham, Faith Ford, Carol Kane

Starring: Vin Diesel, Lauren Graham, Faith Ford, Carol Kane, Brad Garrett, Morgan York, Max Thierot, Brittany Snow

Director: Adam Shankman

Director: Adam Shankman
Screenwriter: Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant
Producer: Robert Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Jonathan Glickman, Jennifer Gibgot
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

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Reviews for The Pacifier

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

The film doesn't succeed on any level.

Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
07/05/05
Dan Chant
Dan Chant
FilmFocus

Fails on both an emotional and comedic level.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
06/25/05
Anna Smith
Anna Smith
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Basically, this is Big Vin’s Kindergarten Cop and your enjoyment of it will depend on just how much of a Vin fan you are.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
05/26/05
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Abysmal.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/19/05
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

For what it is--lazily written fluff--the film's extremely entertaining.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
03/24/05
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

It might have been a good career move for Diesel, who cut his teeth on high-octane action, but the script needs a lift and the direction feels lackluster.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Diesel has amply shown his star presence already, and he may even have a flair for comedy (if Hulk Hogan did, why shouldn’t he?), but he gets no chance to prove it here.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

Per its title, The Pacifier will lull you to sleep.

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
08/16/07
Nigel Floyd
Nigel Floyd
Time Out New York

It's almost as if the writers got carried away with brainstorming all the funny things they could do with Vin Diesel's character.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
11/01/06
Mary Lasse
Mary Lasse
Christianity Today

full review in Greek

Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | comment Comment
10/03/06
Joseph Proimakis
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses

At one point, Diesel literally wades into a rancid sewer and emerges covered in feces, an image that sadly doubles as a metaphor for his career.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
09/26/05
Nathan Rabin
Nathan Rabin
AV Club

a nice, safe family film

Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | comment Comment
07/22/05
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

Frankly, to call The Pacifier a "cookie cutter" movie is an insult to the folks who actually make cookie cutters.

Full Review Source: DVD Clinic | comment Comment
07/09/05
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
DVD Clinic

I realize this is The Pacifier and not Vera Drake, but how this film strains credulity smacks of contempt for a paying audience

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
07/04/05
Bill Chambers
Bill Chambers
Film Freak Central

Children under the age of 12 and teenagers who never set foot in a library might get some cheap thrills out of this refuse.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
06/28/05
Uri Lessing
Uri Lessing
eFilmCritic.com

The Pacifier is typically Disney: non-offensive to the point of banality.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
06/23/05
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

...perfect for less-discriminating viewers, and those who just want a 98-minute respite from using their brain.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
06/18/05
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

The good news is that the film accelerates just when Vin Diesel’s acting ability starts to wane.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
06/07/05
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

Just funny enough to recommend and it has a lot of heart.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
06/02/05
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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