The Guardian (2006) - Rotten Tomatoes

critics consensus

The Coast Guard gets its chance for a heroic movie tribute, but The Guardian does it no justice, borrowing cliche after cliche from other (and better) military branch movies. Read critic reviews

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The Guardian Photos

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

On the set of the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

A scene from the film "The Guardian."

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Movie Info

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer (Kevin Costner), who still mourns losing his crew in a fatal accident, copes by dedicating his life to training new recruits, so when he meets swimming champion Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher), he molds the cocky young man into his protege and takes him on a mission in the dangerous waters of the Bering Strait.

Rating:

PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Action|Brief Strong Language|Peril|Some Sensuality)
Genre:

drama, action
Original Language:

English
Director:

Andrew Davis
Producer:

Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson
Writer:

Ron L. Brinkerhoff, James Vanderbilt
Release Date (Theaters):

Sep 29, 2006 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jun 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA):

$55.0M
Runtime:

2h 19m
Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Firm Films, Beacon Pictures
Sound Mix:

SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Kevin Costner
Ben Randall

Ashton Kutcher
Jake Fischer

Sela Ward
Helen Randall

Melissa Sagemiller
Emily Thomas

Clancy Brown
Capt. William Hadley

Dulé Hill
Ken Weatherly

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for The Guardian

Box Office Guru Preview: Heartbreak Kid Hopes to Charm Moviegoers

Box Office Preview: Kingdom Hopes to Win Box Office Crown

Box Office Guru Preview: "Knocked Up" Expecting Solid Arrival

Critic Reviews for The Guardian

All Critics (150) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (95)

Will definitely rescue some moviegoers from the post-summer doldrums, but someone should have told Davis that there's going to be casualities if he leaves audiences in the water that long.

March 24, 2007 | Full Review…

Brian Tallerico
UGO Screenwriter's Voice
Quote not available.

October 14, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Robert Hanks
Independent (UK)
Quote not available.

October 13, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Empire Magazine
Quote not available.

October 8, 2006 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Josh Rosenblatt
Austin Chronicle
Quote not available.

September 30, 2006 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

Dallas Morning News
Kutcher and Costner have a kind of visual chemistry that's just as elusive as the other kind. And the connection and contrast between them remind us that Hollywood isn't as forgiving of older male actors as we like to think.

September 29, 2006

Stephanie Zacharek
Salon.com
A simple, predictable, and formulaic action flick.

September 9, 2020 | Rating: 2.0/4.0 | Full Review…

Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
The Guardian is ultimately a by the numbers movie that failed to hit big at the box office, seemingly lost to time. Various elements seem dated or unintentionally hilarious.

February 6, 2020 | Full Review…

VyceVictus
Lewton Bus
When I left the theater, it was with not only newfound knowledge and respect for the men and women of our Coast Guard, but with a wave of excitement from the sheer excellence and entertainment of the film.

November 6, 2019 | Full Review…

Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
As tiresome as it is drawn out.

November 3, 2018 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Kaleem Aftab
The List
There's nothing particularly wrong with it, it's just very tedious. Originality doesn't seem to be important and maybe it doesn't have to be as The Guardian is dealing with something true but what that something is the filmmakers seem to know.

March 22, 2011 | Rating: 6/10 | Full Review…

Joshua Starnes
ComingSoon.net
Quote not available.

February 9, 2011 | Rating: 3/10 | Full Review…

Heather Huntington
ReelzChannel.com

View All Critic Reviews (150)

Audience Reviews for The Guardian

Aug 25, 2012

There is nothing special and falls into the common and predictable, but it is entertaining, a little touching, with an ending that redeems the whole movie

Rodrigo R Super Reviewer
Jan 10, 2012

Although very similar to An Officer and a Gentleman the subject matter and performances make it entertaining enough.

Jonny C Super Reviewer
Jun 27, 2011

Highly entertaining. Watching the development of the two main characters is unique and the rescue scenes are intense. Just a little too long.

Kevin M Super Reviewer
Dec 19, 2010

I actually liked this movie a lot, I didnt think it was this good.

Andreia C Super Reviewer

See all Audience reviews

The Guardian Quotes

Capt. William Hadley:

There is a legend of a man who lives beneath the sea. He is a fisher of men, the last hope of all those who have been left behind. Many survivors claim to have felt his gripping hands beneath them; pushing them up to the surface; whispering strength until help could arrive. But this, of course, is only a legend.

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