The Tooth Fairy: I’m a Believer

Now, I admit, when walking into the Tooth Fairy I had my trepidations. Come on The Rock; in a tutu; flying? Um, no. But there are two things that I didn’t’ take into account when walking into the theater. The Rock is utterly charming, and that can make all the difference.

The Tooth Fairy stars Dwayne Johnson as Derek Thompson, a former major league hockey player banished to the minors because of an injury. With his popularity and career on the decline, he revels in the new surge of admiration he gets from bashing his opponents in a move that always knocks their teeth out, earning him the aptly given nickname ‘The Tooth Fairy.’ Whimsical nicknames aside Derek is just as much a killer of dreams off the ice as he is on, as he crushes the dreams of young children surrounding him. For the particularly heinous crime of telling the daughter of his girlfriend (girlfriend played by Ashley Judd) that there is no Tooth Fairy he is called to the fairy court and sentenced to spend time as a tooth fairy. With his wingless fairy mentor Tracy, played by Stephan Merchant, and the hopes of two young kids, Derek struggles to rediscover the magic in dreams.

This movie is simply heart-warming. And yes, we’ve seen it all before. The disbeliever thrown into a world of impossibility; the has-been struggling for fame; the child with a secret talent yearning for the faith to believe; there is nothing new here. And yet, the innocent and beautiful performances given by a few of the stars are just captivating. First there’s Johnson, who brings such honesty to his role. Just to look in his eyes takes you to the heart of this character; and this is astounding, truly a joy to behold. And though you may not like this character at times, it remains true. Merchant does a great job in the role of mentor and fairy underdog. And his awkward performance brings much relief. Another notable performance includes Chase Ellison as Randy, the aforementioned talented kid who looks to Johnson for faith.

This movie seems to be billed as a comedy, but in truth there are not that many funny parts. Don’t get me wrong it’s entertaining, but there are no moments that knock you back in your seat bringing tears to your eyes with laughter. There is enough to make you chuckle and to keep the kids content. But all-in-all the hi-jinks are at a low. And even Derek’s misadventures as a fairy are not pushed far enough as he reaches no impossible situations or major foul-ups that could be a chance for comedic exploration. For a non-believer he’s pretty good, and that’s pretty lame.

In fact, Derek’s time as a tooth fairy takes a back seat as he muddles through his real life, and it is here where Johnson really shines. It is here where his charisma and personality come through making Thompson such an engaging, lovable character. Johnson brings the heart and warmth to a role that in far less capable hands would have left this film floundering in mediocrity.

And speaking of mediocrity, Ashley Judd’s by the book performance as Carly was completely forgettable and not worth mentioning (but unfortunately I have to.) Ryan Sheckler brings absolutely nothing to his role as up and coming phenom Mick Donnelly. Billy Crystal and Julie Andrews are passable, though not inspired.

But aside from all that, The Tooth Fairy is still a really sweet movie. If you’re a Johnson fan or a sucker for heart-wrenching movies, I’d suggest you check it out. If not, you can wait for the DVD.