Tampa Film Fan

dvd review:the guardian

Some bad news about the movie The Guardian: We’ve seen this story before.  An aging soldier/athlete/fighter (this time it’s a Coast Guard rescue swimmer) (Kevin Costner) is getting too old for the job he loves and has to train/initiate/teach a young, arrogant, cocky recruit/trainee/apprentice (Ashton Kutcher).

Some good news about The Guardian:  It manages to rise above predictability; it’s actually quite entertaining.

Bad news:  Sela Ward, playing the wife of Costner’s character, isn’t in the movie long enough.

Good news:  At least Costner’s character isn’t married to a girl half his age.

Bad news:  Ashton Kutcher is in the movie.

Good news:  Kutcher was able to tone down his whiny, Punk’d persona and do a good job as the overly-confident trainee.

Bad news:  Kevin Costner is getting older.

Worse news:  We’re all getting older.

Good news:  Costner still looks great and has the same No Way Out sparkle in his eye.

Film Fan Finding: B+

DVD Extras:

• previews
• alternate ending
• deleted scenes
• audio commentary
• featurette The Guardian:Making Waves
• featurette Unsung Heroes:So Others May Live