Nanny,’ ‘Santa With Muscles’: The Hulkster really made a bid to get into Hollywood, and for the most part succeeded. Although he basically just punched his ticket here, Chan does deliver enough of his inventive stunts to make this slightly original, while cleaving strong to the outline of these films. He tries to win them over so he can marry their mother, but then one kid downloads a secret computer file and Russian agents arrive. Jackie Chan, ‘The Spy Next Door’: Chan ended up with his opportunity when he plays a CIA agent who is charged with watching his girlfriend’s three children. The purpose of this entire enterprise is to get the money shot of Johnson in a pink tutu and wings. “Tooth Fairy” sees him as a self-centered hockey player who tells a kid the Tooth Fairy is not real, so he is forced to serve as an actual tooth fairy as punishment, and to learn parental lessons. “Game Plan” sees him as a star NFL quarterback who suddenly discovers he is the father of an eight-year-old daughter, and his life is altered. Johnson has become an international star, partly because he paid his dues in these kid-centric ventures. Dwayne Johnson was initially considered for the role, and for a time Jackie Chan was actually attached to star.ĭwayne Johnson, ‘The Game Plan,’ ‘Tooth Fairy’: If Cena is following a particular career path, it is that of the actor known as The Rock. While Arnold established this category of films, in a way “Pacifier” cemented the cliché. Diesel is occasionally tormented by the family’s pet, a mallard duck. The humor is derived from Diesel treating the kids like a squadron, looking at the family minivan as a military vehicle, and strapping on his tactical gear to carry diapers and juice boxes. Vin Diesel, ‘The Pacifier’: A wounded Navy SEAL is embedded in the home of a deceased scientist to protect the family and to locate his secret military experiment. It delivered a number of quotable lines, established Arnold’s comedic credentials, and served as the elevator pitch for all of the following films: “It’s ‘Kindergarten Cop,’ but with firefighters.” “Think KC, this time with a quarterback!” In this iconic role, he was an undercover cop who played a teacher to get close to the ex-wife of a dangerous criminal. Arnold went through a career phase playing against type in comedic versions of his persona. Let’s look at other members in this club, and a brief history of its growth.Īrnold Schwarzenegger, ‘Kindergarten Cop’: This is arguably the title that kicked off this sub-genre. This is the elite club of which Cena has now become a member. (Bonus points awarded if the children have a pet that dismays the star.) ![]() The kids are more than a handful and challenge the persona of our hero.Īfter comedically rough times, the character starts to connect with the kids.Ī third-act event threatens the newly formed bond.Ī happy ending forges a union between the star and the kids. The lead is in a “macho” career (military, law enforcement, athlete, etc.)Īgainst his will, children are foisted upon him. ![]() Most of these films have followed an established blueprint: It is a rite of passage in which the heroic star develops his comedy chops by making light of their persona and appearing off balance when faced with unfamiliar family foibles. There have been a steady stream of films thrusting established action men into a family comedy involving interactions with kids. Cena is actually going through an initiation.
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