I saw a few clips and images of this film, I assumed it was going to be rubbish and poorly rated by critics, but to be honest, I would have probably given it a go even if it was, from director Michael Lembeck (The Santa Clause 2, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause). Basically minor league hockey player Derek Thompson (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) is a small celebrity nicknamed the "Tooth Fairy", because of his reputation for hitting opposing players so hard he knocks out their teeth, but he is getting older and new younger players are gaining more attention, particularly Mick Donnelly (Ryan Sheckler) who rubs his nose in the fact Derek will be a nobody. Derek has girlfriend Carly Harris (Ashley Judd), she has two children, six year old daughter Tess (Destiny Grace Whitlock) and teenage son Randy (Chase Ellison), Tess has a loose tooth under her pillow for the real tooth fairy to leave a dollar for, Derek does not believe anyone should have dreams as he thinks they never come true, he almost blurts out that there is no such thing as the tooth fairy, but Carly stops him just in time, she is upset that he would think of spoiling her child's imagination. Later that night Derek finds a summons under his pillow from The Department of Dissemination of Disbelief, from Tooth Fairy Land, then he magically grows wings and is transported to this magical world, there he meets his case worker Tracy (Stephen Merchant) and the head fairy Lily (Dame Julie Andrews), she tells him he is a "dream crusher" and has unsympathetic dealings with children, so as punishment he has to serve two weeks as a tooth fairy. He wakes up, but this experience was no a dream, Jerry (Billy Crystal) gives him the necessary tools, "Shrinking Paste" to shrink down to six inches for one hour, "Invisible Spray" to be invisible for a short time, "Amnesia Dust" to make someone for events from a few seconds, "Cat Away" to scare cats, and "Dog Bark Peppermints" to make someone speak in dog barks. Derek has no choice but to carry out his tooth fairy duties whenever he is called, he is given the address of a child whose tooth has fallen out, it is his task to take the tooth from under the pillow and leave a dollar, of course he does not do so in the conventional way for a while, and his lack of commitment and things in his own personal life are creating problems. Slowly though, after some mucking about to make himself feel better and some tinkering in fairy matters Derek does learn to change his ways, he becomes accustomed to the good side of being a tooth fairy, and he bonds with Randy who wants to impress at a talent contest, there is the point though when everything becomes too much and things go wrong, and he snaps. In the end though Derek makes up for his mistakes, he completes his time as a tooth fairy, and Tracy achieves his dream of becoming a tooth fairy himself, Derek is forced to forget all his experiences and say goodbye to the magic world, but he still keeps the memory of believing in dreams, including seeing Randy gain a standing ovation at his talent show, and Derek proposes to Carly who accepts. Also starring Seth MacFarlane as Ziggy and Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son's Brandon T. Jackson as Duke. I agree Johnson is not much of an actor, but he is indeed likable as the washed up ice hockey player who learns the error of his ways in a daft way, the supporting cast are all alright as well, especially Merchent in his first big film role, and Andrews, Judd and Crystal get their moments. You could argue that this film is ridiculous and full of annoying sentimentality, but once you get into the swing of it you cannot help but giggle at the appropriate moments, it has some funny slapstick humour for all ages, and the special effects are pretty good for the magical stuff, a surprisingly pleasant fantasy comedy. Worth watching!
Review of Tooth Fairy
