Playing with Fire (Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Paramount 
 Release Date: February 5, 2020
 Rating: PG
 Film: 2.5/5
 
 Plot
 When firefighter Jake Carson (John Cena) and his team rescue three siblings in the path of a wildfire, they quickly realize that no amount of training could have prepared them for their most challenging job yet – babysitting. While trying to locate the children’s parents, the firefighters have their lives, jobs and even their fire station turned upside down and learn that kids – much like fires – are wild and full of surprises.
  
 My Thoughts
 I was on the fence about requesting this, but my wife likes to watch comedies and prefers they aren’t of the crude variety. Since this film was produced by Nickelodeon, I figured it would be right up her alley. Sure enough, she enjoyed it much more than I did—I was ready to turn it off 15 minutes in. It caters to kids between the ages of 6-12 with silly jokes and over-the-top situations. Granted, I did find myself laughing occasionally but the sum of its parts isn’t what I’d call great. At just over 90-minutes, the film actually drags in places, but I have to admit that the ending was quite touching, and the kids were cute.
  
 Video 4.5/5 
 
 Audio 4/5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
 
 Special Features:

• Storytime with John Cena
• Deleted Scenes
• Bloopers
• Lighting Up the Laughs
• The Director’s Diaries: Read by Star Cast
• What It Means to Be A Family
• The Real Smokejumpers: This is Their Story
• Blu-ray+ Digital Copy

 

 
 Conclusion
 John Cena isn’t a great actor and my wife was disgusted by his roided-up body, but he does a decent job in this role that certainly caters to a younger audience. The A/V presentation was quite good—as if the younglings care of such things—and we did laugh-out-loud on more than one occasion, especially with some of the antics of the kids. Overall this one is a rental if it’s something your kids or grandkids are interested in seeing, but I doubt it’s something you’d want to sit through more than once.  
 
 Reference Review System:
  
 Reference Review System:
 JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High Definition Front Projector
 (Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
 Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Fixed Screen
 Anthem AVM60 Audio/Video Processor 
 ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
 Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player 
 System Controller: URC MX-980
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
 Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
 SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
 HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
 JL Audio Fathom F110 Subwoofers x 2 (stacked)
JL Audio Dominion D110 Subwoofer x 2 (stacked)

Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
 Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
 PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner