THE GAME PLAN
A feel-good family comedy about love, priorities, and fatherhood.
Should You Watch It?
If you want a movie that leaves your family feeling better than it found you, take the trip. THE GAME PLAN is corny, lovable, decent, and thoroughly committed to the idea that love matters more than fame or fortune.
The story is simple, but the moral points are strong. Joe Kingman begins with his priorities badly ordered, then learns through his daughter that there is more to life than success, image, and personal comfort. The film also avoids foul language, sex, and smoking without sacrificing entertainment or production value.
The practical answer is simple: THE GAME PLAN is a highly entertaining choice for families of all ages.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJoe Kingman is the star quarterback of the Boston Rebels, with a perfect plan to win the Super Bowl. He is also egotistical, famous, and surrounded by reminders of himself.
Then his beautiful, brilliant 8-year-old daughter, Peyton, arrives unexpectedly. Joe is convinced by her birth certificate that she is his child, but his agent warns him to keep the situation quiet or risk his merchandising contracts. Peyton turns Joe’s carefully managed world upside down.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is excellent family entertainment, even though it is not trying to be profound or artsy. The direction, editing, sound, lighting, music, and camerawork are all of the highest quality, but they serve the story rather than overwhelming its simple premise.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s natural egotism makes Joe believable and funny, while Madison Pettis is brilliant as Peyton and pulls the movie together. The direction also helps several performers who may not be the best thespians but work well within the film’s structure. The result is polished, warm, and very entertaining.
The Worldview
THE GAME PLAN presents a very moral biblical worldview about fathers turning their hearts to their children and children turning their hearts to their fathers. Joe’s life begins centered on himself, his fame, his awards, and his football career. Fatherhood forces him to reconsider those priorities and become a loving father whose life is put in better order.
The film strongly affirms family, love, responsibility, and moral correction. It contains lots of moral points and rebukes of immoral behavior. There are no overt Christian references, but the film’s central values align closely with biblical teaching. Its light references to partying with girls are mostly rebuked, and the story consistently favors family commitment over self-centered success.
The film’s longing for restored family relationships echoes Scripture: “And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very moral biblical worldview about fathers turning their hearts to their children and children turning their hearts to their fathers, but no overt Christian references; no foul language with two light scatological references; cartoonish slapstick violence in action football sequences, in pratfalls, in ballet sequences where father forgets to catch somebody, father falls off bed, father hits head, and two food allergy sequences, one played for comedy and one serious; very mild references to such things as partying with girls, mostly rebuked, but no implied or depicted sex scenes or crude sexual references or jokes; upper male nudity in locker room, in dressing room and a couple of times when the hero flexes his muscles; light alcohol use; no smoking; and, lots of moral points and lots of rebukes of immoral behavior.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Joe’s life is full of pictures, videos, and awards of himself. What can help us recognize when success has become more important than people?
Mark 8:36 · Philippians 2:3–4Peyton changes Joe’s understanding of what matters. What responsibilities come with being a parent, child, or other member of a family?
Ephesians 6:1–4 · 1 Timothy 5:8The film shows a father and daughter learning to love one another. How can your family turn toward one another in practical ways this week?
Malachi 4:6 · Romans 12:10The story rebukes some immoral behavior and points toward better priorities. How should love shape the choices we make?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Matthew 22:37–39The Final Word
THE GAME PLAN is polished, funny, moral, and full of heart. It makes a strong case that love and family matter more than fame or fortune. For a warm, entertaining movie night, WORTH THE TRIP.
