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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)
Bubble View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
splat
30/100

Dan Chant

The film doesn't succeed on any level.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 05 2005 06:49 PM

FilmFocus

splat
1/5

Anna Smith

Fails on both an emotional and comedic level.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 25 2005 03:31 AM

Empire Magazine

tomato
3/5

Matthew Turner

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: | comment Comment | May., 26 2005 03:15 AM

ViewLondon

splat
1/5

Paul Arendt

Abysmal.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 19 2005 03:16 AM

BBC

tomato
3/5

Rich Cline

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 24 2005 10:15 PM

Shadows on the Wall

N/R

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 29 2009 03:15 AM

Cinema Crazed

splat

Urban Cinefile Critics

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: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 03:38 AM

Urban Cinefile

splat
1/5

Jim Lane

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: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2008 03:15 AM

Sacramento News & Review

splat

Nigel Floyd

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 16 2007 03:15 AM

Time Out New York

splat
2/4

Mary Lasse

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: | comment Comment | Nov., 01 2006 03:27 PM

Christianity Today

splat
1/5

Joseph Proimakis

full review in Greek

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 03 2006 09:21 AM

Movies for the Masses

splat

Nathan Rabin

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: | comment Comment | Sep., 26 2005 03:15 AM

AV Club

tomato
3/5

Kevin Carr

a nice, safe family film

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 22 2005 03:33 PM

7M Pictures

splat
1/5

Scott Weinberg

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 09 2005 07:04 PM

DVD Clinic

splat
0.5/4

Bill Chambers

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: | comment Comment | Jul., 04 2005 02:37 AM

Film Freak Central

splat
1/5

Uri Lessing

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: | comment Comment | Jun., 28 2005 07:29 PM

eFilmCritic.com

splat
5/10

John J. Puccio

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 23 2005 10:37 AM

DVDTown.com

tomato
2.5/4

David Nusair

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 18 2005 05:35 AM

Reel Film Reviews

splat
C

Bruce Bennett

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 07 2005 06:15 PM

Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

tomato
C+

Robert Roten

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 02 2005 07:10 PM

Laramie Movie Scope

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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