Respond to these rapid questions in our Playing With Fire quiz and we will tell you which Playing With Fire character you are. Play it now.
From the very beginning of the family comedy “Playing With Fire,” it is clear that we are entering surreal territory – specifically, from the very beginning of the opening titles.
A wildfire rages through a forest in Northern California at the start of the film, setting the tone for the entire film. People are stranded in their cars, traffic is backed up, and chaos and fear are swirling around in the haze from the fire. Who’s providing the music for this emergency situation? “Uptown Funk,” the perky and ubiquitous party anthem by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars from a few years ago, has been re-released. Perhaps the filmmakers were referring to the section of the song’s lyrics that says “Call the police and the fire department” in a literal sense. Whatever the reason, it’s a bizarre choice, but it’s only the first in a long line that will include many more.
Using little regard for continuity, logic, or pacing, director Andy Fickman has slapped together a series of wacky antics with little regard for logic or pacing. His previous high-concept comedies include “You Again,” “Parental Guidance,” and, of course, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” among others. Throughout the day, I found myself asking myself questions such as, “How did that dog get there?” “Can you tell me where Judy Greer got that sweater?” “How did they complete that ‘My Little Pony’ mural in such a short amount of time?” plus the question of “What happened to Keegan-Michael Key?” “He was just standing there a split second before.” As an example of how the film attempts to appeal to the broadest possible audience with its broad brand of humor, the film includes an equal ratio of poop jokes to John Cena shirtless scenes, just to give you an idea. I made a mental note of how many there were.
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In its attempt to be tasteless and crass, “Playing With Fire” is also treacly and upbeat at the same time. It wants you to say “Ewwww…,” but it also wants you to say “Awwww…” You’re more likely to groan and then glance at your wristwatch once more.
Playing With Fire Quiz
Cena portrays Jake Carson, a tenacious firefighter who goes above and beyond to save the lives of his smokejumpers when wildfires threaten the rugged wildlands of Northern California. The experience of watching this film during a time when much of the state was engulfed in flames in reality was surreal as well.) His co-workers include the meticulous Mark (Key), the sensitive Rodrigo (John Leguizamo), and the mute, burly Axe (Tyler Mane), among others. In fact, Mane, Cena’s fellow former wrestler, portrays a character named Axe due to the fact that he… wields an axe. Jake and the team arrive at a cabin to put out a fire and discover a trio of siblings trapped inside: responsible teenager Brynn (Brianna Hildebrand), impish younger brother Will (Christian Convery), and the tiny, wide-eyed moppet Zoe (Brianna Hildebrand) (Finley Rose Slater).
Also, you will find out which character are you in this Playing With Fire quiz.
A prime example of how Fickman, working from a script by Matt Lieberman and Dan Ewen, will nonsensically yank us out of a situation for a cheap laugh is the scene in question. A minor disagreement over semantics breaks out between Jake and the kids in the middle of what should have been an intense rescue mission. Jake is then rushed back up to the helicopter by pilot Rodrigo, who misunderstands Jake’s intentions. (In actuality, he is slammed against the ceiling.) Cena is also prone to falling on his face. It’s never even funny when you’re trying to be funny.)
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After all, the whole point of the game is to get those kids back to the fire depot, which is a clean and orderly environment where they can wreak havoc in a variety of ways. And because Jake is unable to contact their parents, he is forced to care for them for a much longer period of time than he had anticipated. To put it another way, Jake doesn’t have time or space in his heart for anyone else, not even for the scientist (Greer) who is conducting research nearby and has a thing for him. He is completely focused on his work. Despite this, a slew of bizarre misadventures involving paint thinner, soap suds, and, yes, poop ensue. A sequence involving projectile diarrhea and a protective firefighting suit appears to defy the laws of physics, and I’m still trying to figure out how it makes logistical sense. When Jake has to go outside to relieve himself, the youngest sibling – a little girl who is perhaps 4 years old – stands directly in front of him, holding his head still to ensure that he maintains eye contact with her throughout the entire process. It’s every bit as uncomfortable as it appears.
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As a result, the story takes a dizzying 180-degree turn into feel-good territory, with Mark waxing lyrical about the important, brave work that smokejumpers do and Jake finally letting his guard down and becoming a warm, doting father figure to these kids at a time when they desperately need it the most. When it comes to comedic roles, Cena has had some fun with his beefy image in films like “Trainwreck” and “Blockers,” but he has nothing to work with in this one. The way “Playing With Fire” wastes the ever-reliable Greer (with whom Cena has absolutely no chemistry) and the incredibly versatile Key is an even more egregious act of sabotage. Only adults will understand the joke he delivers, which is the only reason this is a half-star review rather than a zero-star one. He also receives the only genuinely funny line in the film, which comes in the form of a joke that only adults in the audience will understand.
Do you still not believe me? Simply keep an eye on things. Or, even better, don’t do it.
For more personality quizzes check this: Die Hard Quiz.
