Barnes & Noble

The story of callow, cocky recruits hammered into shape by grizzled veterans is a time-honored film convention. Handled with conviction, though, familiar character types and plot situations can take on a bright new sheen. Such is the case with The Guardian. Ben Randall (Kevin Costner), a living legend among the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers -- an elite unit of men and women who brave stormy seas to aid victims in distress -- is reassigned from active duty to a head teaching post. His most problematic student is Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher), a former high school swimming champ whose bluster annoys the skeptical veteran. Does Fischer really have what it takes, or will he fold in a crisis situation? Focusing primarily on the conflict between teacher and student, director Andrew Davis coaxes fine performances from his two leads; still, the principal players are nearly upstaged by singer Bonnie Bramlett, playing a brassy chanteuse who operates a music club near the school. The big, elaborately staged, nail-bitingly intense rescue mission that dominates the final reels comes right on schedule, but like much of this vastly entertaining piece of escapism, its basic satisfactions trump its predictability. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

A decorated Coast Guard search and rescue specialist still haunted by the death of his teammates during a disastrous mission off the coast of Alaska is charged with the task of training the next generation of Coast Guard rescue swimmers in director Andrew Davis' ocean-bound adventure drama. Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) was the best swimmer of his graduating class, but upon surfacing as the sole survivor of an Alaskan rescue mission attempted during a Category Three storm, his outlook on life has grown increasingly jaded. Now, as hotshot young swimmer Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) arrives at Coast Guard rescue school looking to accomplish something meaningful with his life, he will be forced to endure the rigorous training methods of a man who expects nothing less than the very best in order to become a member of one of the most elite rescue squads on the planet. Jason Buchanan

Product Details

• UPC: 786936705119
• Source: TOUCHSTONE / DISNEY
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English, Français, Español
• Subtitles: English, Français, Español
• Time: 2:19:00
• Sales Rank: 2,408

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