"Tooth Fairy" Movie Review (2010)

Movie Review

"Tooth Fairy"

Directed by Michael Lembeck, Written by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, Randi Mayem Singer, Josh Sternin, and Jeff Ventimilia, 102 minutes, Rated PG.

By our guest blogger, Rob Stammitti

"Tooth Fairy," a high-concept fantasy film very much in the same vein as "The Santa Clause," (and, appropriately, directed by the helmer of the two sequels) follows a tough but aging hockey superstar named Derek Thompson (Dwayne Johnson), who has been nicknamed "The Tooth Fairy" by fans because of his frequent bouts on the hockey rink that result in missing teeeth.

One day his girlfriend's daughter loses a tooth, and the brutal realist that Derek is, he begins to tell the little girl that there is no real tooth fairy. He's stopped before he damages the youngster's fantasy, but as he attempts to fall asleep later in the night, he finds he's sprouted a pair of fluffy white wings, and all of a sudden he is transported into a huge office building that is evidently the home base to all of the tooth fairies in the world. The head tooth fairy (Julie Andrews) tells him that he's been summoned to serve two weeks as a tooth fairy to repay for the fantasy he nearly destroyed.

Goofy shenanigans and life lessons follow, along with plenty of jokes about how the total tough guy The Rock is wearing fairy clothing.

The film very basically (and blatantly) says that when one stops believing things are possible, all imagination is lost. This concept, to me, makes very little sense--after all, there is a fairly notable difference between believing in the tooth fairy or believing one is going to grow up to be a famous rock star (as one young character in the film believes) and having an imagination, which has nothing to do with what you do or do not believe is possible.

As heartless as it may sound, I related far more to Dwayne Johnson's character earlier in the film. His diligent belief in having realistic expectations does come off a bit strong, but I have to admit that regardless of what this film says, it is a genuinely poor idea to prolong a child's belief in things that simply are not true. I felt the same about "The Santa Clause," but that film was endearing (and original) enough that it could be excused.

Dwayne Johnson, continuing to remove himself from his former "Rock" moniker with yet another family film, certainly suits his role well enough, but he's hardly given much good material to work with and he often comes off as extremely unlikable, even when it should be the opposite. There are several solid supporting performances, notably Stephen Merchant, frequent collaborator with Ricky Gervais and co-creator/co-star of "The Office" and "Extras," as Derek's fairy case worker, and Billy Crystal as the tooth fairy who acts as a sort of "Q" to Derek's "Bond," equipping him with all of the gadgets he needs to get the job done.

"Tooth Fairy" follows every cliche and family-film formula so painstakingly that each moment seems familiar and unbelievably boring. Almost from the moment the film starts, you know where it's heading every step of the way. It goes from dull to ludicrous, however, around an hour in when the film (completely unironically) has a 10-minute training montage, complete with a ridiculous and cheesy rock anthem. And, of course, the film ends all neat and tidy, just where and how you expect it to.

Even as a cash-in kids movie, "Tooth Fairy" is so exceedingly average that it hardly even seems as if a child would enjoy it. Either way, it's a quick, simple, relatively good-hearted film, and as one of the few family movies out this time of year, I suppose it's anybody's best bet. But let's be clear--in this age of consistent mediocrity in kid's movies, that's not saying much.

Grade: D+

View the movie trailer for the "Tooth Fair" below.  What are your thoughts of the movie?