The Guardian (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive) has a knack for providing armrest-clutching entertainment. In this film of his, 'The Guardian' (inspired by true events) Kevin Costner plays an Alaskan based, middle-aged USCG rescue swimmer, Ben Randall, whose team is killed in an intense rescue mission. Ben is a legend, but a battered sea dog (physically & emotionally). Old injuries flare up; haunting memories of his friends' deaths cloud his mind & judgment. So he is sent, against his will, to teach his craft at an elite training school down in Louisiana for new recruits. There, he meets Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher), a young high school swimming champ with potential-for-greatness and then-some. They get under each other's skin, and this sets the foundation for the rest of the lengthy film. The movie is cliche & wants, desperately, to be better than it really is. That aside, it definitely has its' entertaining & exciting moments.
Randall is grumpy because he doesn't want to be teaching; he wants to be saving lives, his forte. So since he must be there, he will give the new recruits Hell with unconventional, brutal workouts. Some of these other recruits include Brian Geraghty as 'Hodge', and Dule Hill as 'Weatherly'. There are a lot of 'training' scenes here. Most are very interesting; some are distended and could have been cut. Along the way, we are learning more & more about each character and their motives for joining the Coast Guard. Are they doing it for money? Fame? Or do they actually want to save lives?
Randall pushes Fischer hardest because he sees his obvious potential, but questions his intentions & lack of focus in being a team player. Why does he question him? Because Fischer feels the need to sneak off base, get drunk, get in bar brawls, & hook up with the local girls (and he does with the lovely Melissa Sagemiller). Why is Fischer rebelling? You find out as the plot unfolds.
Randall & Fischer learn to appreciate each other. And after graduation, they both wind up working together back up in Alaska as mentor & apprentice. Will Fischer live up to his potential? Can Randall overcome his demons and still be effective on rescue missions? Can he patch up his failed marriage with Helen (Sela Ward)? All these cliched questions are answered after an amazing climactic sequence that had my behind raising up from my seat.
This really is a 2 man show. Costner's acting always impresses. Kutcher gets better & better as the movie progresses. And boy, is it given time to progress. While I find the movie to be inspiring, educational, & emotional, in parts ... it's just too long. There's lots of dialogue, lots of training. And the love story between Fischer and the local girl goes on way too long, only to have a small pay-off in the end. On the flip side, the action/rescue missions in the high seas, with helicopters and sinking vessels are handled extremely well. The movie is competent in all areas, but thrives only in the visceral action. I enjoy 'The Guardian' because it opens a window for me into the heroic lives of the Coast Guard. Nothing here is groundbreaking, it is just a solid movie that gets tedious in its length.
Randall is grumpy because he doesn't want to be teaching; he wants to be saving lives, his forte. So since he must be there, he will give the new recruits Hell with unconventional, brutal workouts. Some of these other recruits include Brian Geraghty as 'Hodge', and Dule Hill as 'Weatherly'. There are a lot of 'training' scenes here. Most are very interesting; some are distended and could have been cut. Along the way, we are learning more & more about each character and their motives for joining the Coast Guard. Are they doing it for money? Fame? Or do they actually want to save lives?
Randall pushes Fischer hardest because he sees his obvious potential, but questions his intentions & lack of focus in being a team player. Why does he question him? Because Fischer feels the need to sneak off base, get drunk, get in bar brawls, & hook up with the local girls (and he does with the lovely Melissa Sagemiller). Why is Fischer rebelling? You find out as the plot unfolds.
Randall & Fischer learn to appreciate each other. And after graduation, they both wind up working together back up in Alaska as mentor & apprentice. Will Fischer live up to his potential? Can Randall overcome his demons and still be effective on rescue missions? Can he patch up his failed marriage with Helen (Sela Ward)? All these cliched questions are answered after an amazing climactic sequence that had my behind raising up from my seat.
This really is a 2 man show. Costner's acting always impresses. Kutcher gets better & better as the movie progresses. And boy, is it given time to progress. While I find the movie to be inspiring, educational, & emotional, in parts ... it's just too long. There's lots of dialogue, lots of training. And the love story between Fischer and the local girl goes on way too long, only to have a small pay-off in the end. On the flip side, the action/rescue missions in the high seas, with helicopters and sinking vessels are handled extremely well. The movie is competent in all areas, but thrives only in the visceral action. I enjoy 'The Guardian' because it opens a window for me into the heroic lives of the Coast Guard. Nothing here is groundbreaking, it is just a solid movie that gets tedious in its length.