MOVIE REVIEW: Tommy Lee Jones plays by ‘House’ rules
Grade: B
It was quite disappointing for me to find out that this film debuted at the box office only at No 5. But fortunately for myself, I discovered that “Man of the House” is a film much more enjoyable than it appears to be at first glance.
Directed by Stephen Herek (“Mr. Holland’s Opus”), this movie is an endearing and modest comedy about bridging generation gaps and understanding the people most different from you. “Man of the House” also features a bit of action as well as romance, creating an appealing and balanced comedy/action film. Starring Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones (“The Fugitive”), this film is clearly not Academy Award material but it provides an audience with fun, laughter and a bit of suspense.
Jones plays Lt. Roland Sharp, an old-fashioned, hardhearted Texas highway patrolman in hot pursuit of getting an alleged criminal convicted. To help this conviction happen, Jones tries to catch a notable witness who can possibly testify against the crime lord in question. Unfortunately, this witness is killed by the bad guys before Jones can save him but luckily, five random college cheerleaders accidentally witnessed the murder. The plot soon thickens, and lightens up at the same time, when these cheerleaders become key witnesses for Jones and his men.
In order to provide proper protection for these five girls, Jones promptly moves in with them while he secretly poses as their assistant cheerleading coach. And the numerous moments of humor and conflict begin to take place one right after another as Jones tries to adapt to the college cheerleading life. Although some of these humorous moments are un-original and just seem to be taking up time, there are many with considerable wit and charm. This humor is mostly provided by the five cheerleaders, headed by Christina Milian (“Torque”), as they argue and bond with their new chaperone.
Much to my relief, not all the cheerleaders portray the stereotype of the pretty airhead with large breasts. A small mixture of other stereotypes are included which bring much needed variety and dynamics to the mood of the show and the movement of the story. Even though the cheerleader characters are ultimately stereotypes, they don’t try too hard and they each fit into their own role consistently and comfortably.
The supporting cast includes Anne Archer (“Fatal Attraction”), as a literature professor who provides a potential love interest for Jones and Cedric the Entertainer (“Barbershop”) as an ex-convict turned preacher who isn’t entirely repentant of his past. Through each of these roles, “Man of the House” displays an entertaining diversity of characters and sub-plots and while it isn’t what people would call amazing, it remains likeable.
“Man of the House” is a decidedly trendy film for younger teenage audiences, as exemplified by the young hot cheerleaders and the intense action sequences. So it seems odd that Tommy Lee Jones, a comparatively seasoned actor well into retirement, would be an odd or ineffective choice for the starring role. But he clearly does his best and it’s evident that he has fun with this role. Nobody’s performance in this film is outstanding but “Man of the House” is sure to provide a good time on at least a medium level.
Casey T. Allen is a junior majoring in English and is a movie critic for the Utah Statesman. Comments and suggestions of movies to review can be sent to caseyal@cc.usu.edu