NEW Tooth Fairy (DVD)

Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson dressed up as a fairy has got to be one of the more ridiculous images in recent movie history. That's just one of the things that makes Tooth Fairy hilarious. The movie is filled with witty (and sometimes corny) humor. The plot and character development also feel pretty natural. Indeed, even though the plot device of a boyfriend trying to win the love of his girlfriend's children has been used far too many times, it didn't feel stale.

Meanwhile, the toothfairy "kingdom" or whatever had a great combination of magic and sass. It's set up kind of like MI6 from James Bond - Julie Andrews even acts as the head tooth fairy. At the end of the day, it's kind of like The Santa Clause - but with wings and an attitude.

TOOTH FAIRY

STARRING: Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Stephen Merchant, Ryan Sheckler, Chase Ellison, Destiny Whitlock, Seth MacFarlane, Julie Andrews and Billy Crystal

WRITTEN BY: Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, Joshua Sternin, Jeffrey Ventimilia, Randi Mayem Singer and Jim Piddock

DIRECTED BY: Michael Lembeck

Rated: PG
Genre: Comedy
Release Date: 22 January 2010
Review Date: 18 February 2010

Nearly all of Dwayne Johnson's movies have been enjoyable, but this is the first time he's shown talent with acting. I've gotta say, he was pretty darn good in Tooth Fairy.

Johnson plays Derek, a professional hockey player with the nickname `The Tooth Fairy' which he was given for knocking out so many teeth on the ice. It's more than annoying in movies like this, where we know the character will eventually become the tooth fairy, and for some reason they feel the need to previously deem him with a strictly on the nose nickname; kind of like Tim Allen's character Scott Calvin having the same initials as Santa Clause, if you will. But I'm not a child, so my point here is irrelevant.

When Derek makes an un-wanted comment to his girlfriend's daughter about the tooth fairy not being real, he is sentenced to two weeks of `tooth fairy duty'. This sounds a little ridiculous, but we both know this film isn't aimed at you or me, but at the little ones. So looking at it from their point of view, it's on level with the plot of a great film like The Godfather or Saving Private Ryan, in comparison.

Derek's girlfriend is played by Ashley Judd and the harbinger of Derek's two weeks of doom, is a head fairy of sorts, played by Julie Andrews. There are plenty of humorous shenanigans to be had with Derek trying to cover up the fact that he is a tooth fairy, between his girlfriend and her two kids; which is to be expected.

While in `fairy land', Derek is met by a kind of Q character from the James Bond Franchise. His name is Jerry and he is played by none other, than the legendary Billy Crystal. Thank God he's back! Crystal is as enjoyable as ever, while him and Johnson exchange comedic moments back and forth while Derek is being given his fairy `instruments'; dog and cat repellent, magic fairy dust that will shrink you, etc.

Derek is also granted a humorous British side-kick / guardian angel named Tracy (Stephen Merchant). I don't know that I have ever seen this gentleman before, but I'm sure I haven't seen the last of him; he was hilarious. Jerry is a fairy who has been denied his wings and is forced to assist those sentenced to `tooth fairy duty.'

No it's not going to be the best movie of the year; but if you have even a smidgen of a sense of humor, you will at the very least smile.

I'm kind of picky about the movies I watch, which is why I don't watch many. I don't like stupid comedy (dumb and dumber is one of these in my opinion). I like it smart with a little good physical comedy thrown in. This movie made me laugh out loud. It's clean and leaves you feeling good. I was never a Dwayne Johnson fan in his "whatever he did before movies" days--but he is really good in the movies I've seen.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 84 reviews  3.9 out of 5 stars