Garde rapprochée

No, it wasn't Oscar material. It wasn't even comedic genius. But it will make you smile and laugh and you will be entertained.

Tommy Lee Jones turns in his customary performance as a blunt, laconic albeit lovable curmudgeon. The plot is predictable, but then this isn't a Shakespearean tragedy, so how involved is it supposed to be? The girls are cute, little, perky provide enough eye candy to send you into diabetic shock. Of course, I could have done without the Texas Longhorn connection being a USC graduate and all. But that aside, I smiled, and I laughed, and when it was over, I felt good.

So sue me.

I am very well known for scoffing at my husband for taking me to see movies that are not "Oscar Worthy". I have learned not to go to the movies with my teenagers because most of their choices, in my opinion, are dull and poorly made. Thus they didn't like that I drug them to "Mystic River" last year. They didn't understand why I like it.

Although "Man of the House" was not a well made movie and did contain a lot of clichés' I enjoyed it. The lines were quite funny and Tommy Lee Jones being the wonderful actor he is pulled off the "hard nosed guy with a soft side" very well. The interaction between him and the girls was believable and the girls all had their own distinct personalities.... the Latin hot head, the studious good girl, the dumb blonde, the beautiful ex-bad girl hick and the level headed but stubborn leader.

I might have enjoyed it because it has a touch of GIRL POWER in it.... (kinda like Thelma and Louise). I might have liked it because I love Tommy Lee Jones, and I might have liked it because I am an ex-cheerleader and currently a cheer coach (which would ACTUALLY be a reason NOT to like it because the cheerleading in it was for SHOW ONLY. Not a realistic portrayal of our sport by any means). None the less I tend to be hard nose where movie making is concerned and I liked it.

Its a safe bet as a rental. Watch your teenage sons.... there are A lot of half dressed girls (think "Coyote Ugly" but worse).

If you are looking for a "Bring it On" type movie... THIS IS NOT IT. This is more along the lines of "Sugar and Spice".

Ridiculous premise? Absolutely.

Predictable plot line? Unfortunately.

But I'll tell you what, when I saw this movie, the solidly-packed audience found it quite hilarious, and so did I. Of course, the Austin setting was a plus for me, and it was the first movie filmed around UT that was allowed to use the name and logos. It was fun to see local landmarks including Buffalo Billiards, Threadgill's, the campus and the Governor's mansion, but how could Tommy Lee Jones go to Threadgill's and leave without eating one deep-fried dill pickle??

I made a unofficial poll of the women that I know who are over 40 years of age, and every single one said , " I LOVE Tommy Lee Jones!" If that is part of his demographic, this movie should do really well, with TLJ delivering zingers in that cowboy voice, admitting to his 55+ years, and keeping his smiles for the womanly Anne Archer while wrangling the herd of young cheerleaders.

The supporting cast was also fun to watch - just remember this is not a film - it's a MOVIE!

The picture deals about a divorced Texas Ranger named Sharp(Tommy Lee Jones)and with a daughter.A group of University students cheerleaders(Christina Milan,Paula Garces,Monica Keena,Vanessa Forlito,Kelli Garner) have witnessed a killing of a key man in the accusation of a dope kingpin.The Texas Ranger must to protect the beautiful girls as an undercover agent assisting as coach.Meanwhile he's enamored of the attractive professor(Anne Archer) of the young women.

The film displays comedy,laughters,noisy action,tongue in check and is quite bemusing .It's a blending of comedy,thriller and beauties that will like to young public.Agreeable performances for all casting,the actors seem to enjoy themselves immensely.The reliable Tommy Lee Jones is enjoyable and likable as the two-fisted Ranger controlling the gorgeous girls by strict methods.He suffers several jokes and misfortunes in charge of the cheerleaders and confronting problems in his toughest assignment.If you like Lee Jones's liking playing ,you'll enjoy this one.Besides,Cedric the Entertainer as a sympathetic priest making an amazing musical-dance duo with the cheerleaders.Catching,adequate music score by David Newman and atmospheric,appropriate cinematography by Peter Menzies Jr.The movie is produced by Tommy Lee Jones,his only production along with former film ,the magnificent¨The three burials of Melquiades Estrada¨ .The motion picture is correctly directed by the comedy expert ,Stephen Herek.He has directed comedy-Sci-Fi(Bill and Tex excellent adventures),comedy-monsters(Creeters),comedy-sport(Mighty ducks),comedy-drama(Life or something like it),among others. Rating : passable and entertaining,the flick is diverting but not as Herek's previous films.

Tommy Lee Jones, one of my favorites, is type-cast as a Texas Ranger. Cedric is a minister with a criminal past, and the girls are just short of interchangeable bimbos. Anne Archer is thrown in to be a love interest for Tommy and does very little except smile sexily at the camera (which she does well... I also love Anne Archer). The storyline is very predictable, with few surprises. So why did I vote it 7/10? It's a comedy, the writing does rise here and there out of cliché, and the stars - Jones, in particular - have perfect timing. I watched the entire movie, laughed periodically (many's the recent comedy that gets no laughs), and, as one must, didn't take it too seriously. 99% of the pyrotechnics occur in the first ten minutes, and after that it's up to TLJ and the cast to keep it moving and, somehow, they do. With less interesting stars to work the lines this movie could easily drop to below 5...