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Movie Review # 329: Playing With Fire (2019)
Everyone, sorry this movie is several days late. It’s just been crazy busy with me getting this blog up and running, posting other movie reviews just a few days ago, and things like that. So because of that, I may be reviewing a movie just about every night this week, including later tonight. Well, tonight, we review a live-action family that was just released a couple weeks ago. The one and only Playing With Fire.

Plot: Three kids get rescued from a fire at their house by four firemen (played by Tyler Mane, John Cena, Keegan Michael-Key, and John Leguizamo respectively). Now, can the firemen help get the kids reunited with their parents once and for all?

This may not quite be the best family movie around. In fact, one could perhaps name a few family movies that might be a little more enjoyable than this one such as 1997’s Mouse Hunt, or 2005’s The Pacifier for instance. Still, that’s not to say that there are still things to like about this movie. But more on that later! For now, let’s go through the negatives. First off, there are moments in Playing With Fire that might feel a little hokey at times. In addition to all of this, while there are some good, and emotional moments, they don’t seem to tug at your heartstrings as much as other movies. Oh, and some of the characters might come off as a little stereotypical. That is likely to the point where one might find himself/herself believing that maybe some of those characters could have maybe been placed in an animated film as comic relief, or something like that, you know? One other thing that I should mention is, off all kids shows to be incorporated in this movie, why does that show end up being My Little Pony? Why not incorporate maybe a somewhat lesser known kid’s show like The Lion Guard, or evening Tangled: The Series, or something TV show like that, you know? I don’t know, it just might have seemed like things could have sliced the movie joke little more, if that had been the case, you know? One other thing that I would like to mention! What was with certain situations getting inserted just for the sake of it? I get that some things are life, but are some certain scenes that are in this movie actually necessary? Just saying!

So, with all of that out of the way, what are the positives for Playing With Fire? Well, to begin, while there are certain cliches that are in Playing With Fire, there are other ones that are broken, and help the film go a different route. That is to the point where people may get more enjoyment from this movie than they probably might have otherwise. Oh, and there is so much slapstick in this movie from beginning to end. Which reminds me, some of you out there have seen comedies like 1997’s Mouse Hunt and 2006’s RV, have you not? If you’re one of those people who have, then let me just say that if you like films with so much heart, slapstick, and comedy like those two in particular, you’re more than likely like Playing With Fire. Sure, it may lack the amount of funny moments or movies like those, or other comedies. Still, what comedy there is in this movie, they make this movie worth seeing all the more. What’s more is that if it weren’t for comedians such as John Leguizamo and Keegan-Michael Key being in this film, it’s hard to say how funny this film would have been in the end. Speaking of stars, that’s another thing to mention. A good majority of the acting, from John Cena, Judy Creer, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Dennis Haysbert, and others, is really good too. Can you believe that John Leguizamo, John Cena, and Keegan-Michael Key all voices animated characters at some point. I mean first, we had Leguizamo voicing characters like Sid The Sloth in the Ice Age films, then Cena voicing Ferdinand in 2017’s Ferdinand. As for Key, in this year alone, he was not only in this film, but also voiced Ducky in Toy Story 4, as well as one of the hyenas in 2019’s The Lion King. I’d say we have a really good record going here. Finally, there are some good messages to take away from this film, as well as learning about life overall from Playing With Fire.

And that’s my review for Playing With Fire. It is a fun movie with some good heart, and plenty of comedic moments that make this movie very fun to watch. Sure, Playing With Fire may not go on to be a classic comedy by any means. Still, there are elements of this film that make this worth one’s time. If not in theaters, then definitely at least see it on video. No doubt that you’ll get a kick out of it.

Final Grade: B