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List Price: $14.99 | | Label: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Salesrank: 4280
Released: June 28, 2005 |
| Our Price: $6.98 |
| Used Price: $1.79 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Walt Disney Pictures presents action hero Vin Diesel (XXX, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS) in a fast-paced comedy smash from the director of BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE! Lt. Shane Wolfe (Diesel) is a tough-as-nails Navy S.E.A.L. who has controlled military operations in every corner of the globe. Now the ultimate test comes when he's assigned to protect the home front ... as in a house loaded with five out-of-control kids! But even when he trades combat gear for diapers and juice boxes, it's not just a babysitting job -- it's an adventure!
Description of The Pacifier (Full Screen Edition):
Vin Diesel is game to soften his tough-guy image in The Pacifier, in which he plays hot-shot Navy S.E.A.L. Shane Wolfe, whose latest mission goes awry when the scientist he's sent to rescue is popped off before he can tell Wolfe where he's hidden some Top Secret software something-or-other. Before you can say Kindergarten Cop, Wolfe is assigned guard duty at the scientist's family home, where he's left with some unruly kids when the widow (Faith Ford) takes off to Switzerland to claim her hubby's safety deposit box under the guidance of Wolfe's superior officer. The trouble with this paint-by-numbers fish-out-of-water kiddie comedy is that Diesel himself is a fish out of water in the movie--he's no comic and is far funnier when he's unintentionally spoofing macho heroics in The Chronicles of Riddick. The film limply throws everything it can at you, including the idea of Wolfe directing a community theater production of The Sound of Music, but is just biding its time until the predictable action climax and hugs-all-around denouement. Vin doesn't look embarrassed, but the supporting cast sure does, especially Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett as a bombastic vice principal and Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham as Garrett's boss and Diesel's sudden love interest.--Steve Wiecking
The Pacifier (Full Screen Edition) Reviews:
"Okay, who's gonna change Red Baby?" 
2009-12-19 - Schwarzenegger tried it with KINDERGARTEN COP and the Rock tried it with THE GAME PLAN. Ice Cube did it with ARE WE THERE YET? With THE PACIFIER Vin Diesel joins the ranks of tough film action stars who strove to soften their hard-boiled images by co-starring in family friendly flicks with cutesy kids. THE PACIFIER, no, it won't blow anyone away with taut plotting or surprising twists or electrifying characterizations or anything like so. This flick pretty much falls into that category of been there, done that, nothing new here. That I ended up liking it is due more to the unexpected sight of Vin Diesel playing nanny to five incorrigible children. Naturally, the kids start out being bratty and subversive, that is, until Diesel's brand of tough love eventually gets them all squared-away. Far-fetched, you say? Heck, yeah! But fun? I would say, yes.
Vin Diesel plays U.S. Navy Seal Lieutenant Shane Wolfe, and no one is harder-than-nails than this squid. Doesn't mean he's not infallible. When Shane muffs a rescue ops by getting a key scientist killed, he gets a chance to atone by babysitting the dead scientist's five kids while their mom (Faith Ford) is away on a government assignment overseas. But Shane learns quick that he's got the parenting skills of a spoon, and that surveillance cameras, tracking devices, and enforced military discipline don't sit too well with traumatized children who had just lost their dad. Still, military regs are all Shane knows and so he persists in dispensing MREs and doling out code names (dubbing the kids "Red One," "Red Two," and so on all the way down to "Red Baby"). Obviously, this can only lead to prankish shenanigans.
Vin Diesel and the Maryland suburbs go together like... well, they don't go together. And that's the humor of it. THE PACIFIER is partly a conventional Disney family film, partly a mild action thriller, and partly a fish-out-of-water story, and it's this last part which most makes the thing watchable. In his child-minding assignment, Shane Wolfe ends up being Den Mother to a bunch of girl scouts, the director to an amateur production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and engages in a chase while riding a little girl's pink bicycle. Things get so preposterous that, later on, when ninjas show up, you just kinda roll with it. Oh, and there's also a homicidal duck somewheres.
Vin Diesel's stiffness actually works in his favor this time. He doesn't quite have that flair for slapstick, but he's so earnest in his pratfalls that the guy is actually endearing. Call me a sucker, but there's something pretty neat about a rugged, menacing-looking dude like the Diesel rendered all mushy by adorable tots. But, man, I can live without seeing yet one more dirty diaper gag in these kinds of movies.
Lauren Graham (GILMORE GIRLS) plays the attractive head school principal and Diesel's platonic love interest. Carol Kane's Romanian nanny (I think she's Romanian) is only in for a bit, but I like Carol Kane and think she's pretty funny. Brad Garrett is always funny, and he steals every scene as the offensive vice principal who's also an objectionable wrestling coach. He's an utter tool in this one, but I can't hate on him. He's just a funny, hairy guy. Of the kids in this film, the one to watch is Morgan York as the wiseacre Lulu. She develops the best chemistry with Vin.
THE PACIFIER goes down nice and easy if all you're looking for is an uncomplicated watch or maybe something wholesome enough to occupy the kids at home. Vin Diesel as an uncompromising Navy Seal-turned-frantic babysitter makes for a nice change of pace, and sometimes I guess you just get in the mood to watch a beefy, growly dude sorting it out with a gaggle of cute, unruly kids. Tough guy Charles Bronson starred in YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS. Heck, even Kenny Rogers tried it with SIX PACK. Although it didn't take a ninja attack to start Kenny's bonding process with his kids.
The Pacifier 
2009-10-21 - I received the DVD in great condition, great time, and I really enjoyed watching the movie, I never knew Vin Diesel could be funny, I always thought of him as a tough guy... :]
Family action adventure and comedy.
2009-09-27 - Our family enjoyed this movie. It was kid friendly but the adults enjoyed it also. Great movie for kids ages 7 and up.
Entertaining for the kids
2009-07-21 - This movie is totally different from the rest of the film Vin Diesel usually plays. It was very good! The story is funny to watch and there are many situations children will find entertaining!! Really good for those who would like a good funny story with a twist at the end! Like also Lauren Graham in this movie (playing also a different part from that of the Gilmore Girls!)
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's AWESOME
2009-04-18 - I can't say enough how much I enjoy this movie! Vin Diesel is utterly irresistible as his tough guy act seems to play like just that- an act. His strength, warmth, and genuine chemistry with the child actors really shines through. A way too small turn by Lauren Graham is just icing on this family friendly comedy cake. Brad Garret is type-cast annoying in (one of the) villian roles. The beginning of the movie was rather startling as I hoped the father might show up in the end. The fun and sweetness of the many babysitting perils is pure joy. One of the few movies where you can get a good look at Diesel shirtless. Love Vin Diesel, love (most of) the cast, love this movie!!!
