Raise your hands if you haven’t formed a preconceived idea about Tooth Fairy. The film seems like a typical, unimaginative family movie for all audiences, but we’re going to give it a shout: it pleasantly surprised us. And not only because we saw Dwayne Johnson in a role that gives him a lot of freedom, but because the film truly has a funny script full of scenes that will make you burst out laughing and a very entertaining development. So, although we’re going to explain it to you in detail, we can tell you that we liked Tooth Fairy, much more than we imagined.
What’s it about?
Derek Thompson is a hockey player who has been stuck in the minor leagues for a good number of years, where he has gained a great reputation for his aggressiveness, earning him the nickname “Tooth Fairy”. One night, rather clumsily, he almost tells his girlfriend’s daughter that the tooth fairy doesn’t exist, and the next morning he wakes up with a summons under his pillow.
Apparently, he has broken a law of the fairy world and must appear there to receive a punishment. This involves working as a tooth fairy for a few weeks to redeem himself and, in the process, learn a thing or two about the importance of having hopes and dreams. During that time, Thompson will have to juggle his personal life, his work on the team, and his new role as a tooth fairy, but it won’t be easy.
The Cast
Undoubtedly, Dwayne Johnson is the soul of the film, and without him it wouldn’t be the same. The actor once again demonstrates his enormous funny side and a charisma capable of captivating any audience. Beyond stagnating in comedies and films for all audiences, with films like this one, Johnson demonstrates that he’s far from the prototypical action actor many saw him as before. His wrestling past and the action films in which he was compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger were long gone, proving Johnson to be an actor capable of delivering funny polished performances without needing to flex his muscles.
He’s joined in the film by a great team of supporting actors who truly hold their own. Particularly noteworthy is Stephen Merchant, an English actor and screenwriter whom we saw in the British version of The Office, who pleasantly surprised us with his remarkable expressiveness. Furthermore, his height (he’s over two meters tall) makes even the enormous Dwayne Johnson seem small, which adds an extra touch of humor to their scenes together. Along with these, there are supporting actors in very well-executed roles, such as Billy Crystal (unrecognizable) and veteran Julie Andrews.
The Movie
Tooth Fairy, although at first glance seems like a children’s film aimed more at young viewers, is a comedy for all audiences that surprises. We could compare it to Bedtime Stories (starring Adam Sandler), given that they follow a similar path in terms of introducing fantasy elements. The film plays its protagonist’s cards very well, as he is extremely funny in most of his scenes, especially those where we see him dressed in a pretty tutu. On the other hand, and like all films of its genre, it has a moral and a final lesson that, without overshadowing the story’s outcome, will surely restore the desire to strive for the future.
Conclusion
Critics didn’t like Tooth Fairy, but the box office, which is ultimately what matters to the producers, has completely contradicted them. The film grossed more than twice its budget with a total worldwide revenue of 112,462,508 dollars. We don’t know what Dwayne Johnson thinks about this type of film, but it’s clear that he doesn’t need to throw punches to please his fans.
