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Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, Sela Ward, Melissa Sagemiller, Clancy Brown ... see more see more... , Omari Hardwick , Alex Daniels , Daniel J. Molthen , Andrew Schanno , Adam De La Pena , Joe Arquette , Gary Billburg , Joshua Mitcheltree , Rusty Tennant , James Barnes , Stephanie Barnes , Andrea Martynowski , Ron Fien , Nevada Smith , Jay Bingham , Shane Sweitzer , John Heard , Neal McDonough , Joseph "Butch" Flythe , Robert E. Watson , John Hall , Johnell Gainey , Jeff Loftus , Brian Geraghty , Dulé Hill , Shelby Fenner , Michael Rady , Peter Gail , Brian Patrick Wade , Benny Ciaramello , Travis Willingham , Matt Laub , Matthew L. Rucker , Tanica Jamison , Paul Wallace , Tilky Jones , Megan Melgaard , Scott Mueller , Jacob Stevens , Austin Lash , Mark Gangloff , Damon Lipari , Roger Edwards , Gregory J. Barnett , Kenny G. Krauss , Gioacchino Brucia , J.D. Evermore , Bryce Cass , Bonnie Bramlett , Richard Davis , James Burton , Tony Brown , Wendell Wayne Stewart , Chris "Hambone" Cameron , Mark Ohlsen , Gene Barge , Steve Eisen , Josie Aiello , Devin Thompson , Tina Treadwell , Corrine DeGroot , Greg Sproles , Ron Dean , James Landers , Jesse De Villa , Leigh Hennessy , Tanner Gill , Norm Compton , Donald Fisher , Tommy Rosales Jr. , Vladimir Tevlovski , Henry Kingi Jr. , Dorian Kingi , Deborah Boone , Roxanne Brooks , Conrad Palmisano , Michael James , Danny Cosmo Higginbottom , Gene Hartline , John Rottger

A decorated Coast Guard search and rescue specialist still haunted by the death of his teammates during a disastrous mission off the coast of Alaska is charged with the task of training the next gener... read more read more...ation of Coast Guard rescue swimmers in director Andrew Davis' ocean-bound adventure drama. Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) was the best swimmer of his graduating class, but upon surfacing as the sole survivor of an Alaskan rescue mission attempted during a Category Three storm, his outlook on life has grown increasingly jaded. Now, as hotshot young swimmer Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) arrives at Coast Guard rescue school looking to accomplish something meaningful with his life, he will be forced to endure the rigorous training methods of a man who expects nothing less than the very best in order to become a member of one of the most elite rescue squads on the planet. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

402,530 ratings

Critics

37% liked it

145 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 19 min.

Directed by: Andrew Davis

Release Date: September 29, 2006

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DVD Release Date: January 23, 2007

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Stats: 21,634 reviews

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The Guardian The Guardian The Guardian The Guardian Ashton Kutcher Ashton Kutcher Ashton Kutcher Ashton Kutcher Ashton Kutcher Ashton Kutcher Ben Randell (Kevin Costner) Ben Randell (Kevin Costner) Ashton Kutcher Ashton Kutcher Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner Ashton and Kevin the guardian Ashton Kutcher
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Flixster Reviews (21,634)

  • StarCrossedVoyager
    September 24, 2011
    StarCrossedVoyager
    It was a long film but I felt they didn't really show anything. There was no strong story line here, just two characters who have been through bad times trying to come out of it. It was very predictable and I just did not care what happened to them. It was sad thinking of what th... read moreey had been through but there's not much here to care about.
  • allan913
    March 28, 2011
    allan913
    A stirring, exciting, thrilling and exhilarating movie. A spectacular and edge of your seat action-packed drama. Great rescue/action sequences that are just plain gripping. It's a remarkable, riveting and satisfying film. Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner deliver powerful and awes... read moreome performances. Brilliant, sure-fire, high-octane entertainment. An amazing non-stop joyride. A pure explosive, pulse-pounding and relentlessly exciting thrill-machine. A truly great film. It's Top Gun for a new generation.
  • Chiefilms
    September 18, 2010
    Chiefilms
    Andrew Davis was a solid director in the early 90's with Under Siege and The Fugitive, clearly doesn't have the steam or cream anymore. Would have been better with different lead actors. Can't stop thinking about Waterworld or Dances with Wolves when I look at Costner, and Kutc... read moreher is fumblin' bumblin' biatch.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 29, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    B+
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    July 16, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Guardian is almost directly a exact copy of Ron Howard's film Backdraft, a lot of plot elements are similar. Including the end. This is a pointless film that had a lot going for it, but it failed to go beyond expectactions, and fell flat almost from the get go. Started off we... read morell enough, but it was apparent 45 minutes in, that the film was borrowing elements from previous drama flicks. Nothing new or original here, a pointless, poorly acted film that rellies on previous plots in other films to create a totally ''new'' story. The overall film was a waste of time, and the ending made this film worse. One of the worst films ever made for sure. A piece of trash that should've never been made in the first place.
  • cosmo313
    June 16, 2010
    cosmo313
    Even though this movie exceeded my expectations, I'm going to start with the gripes first.

    This movie is unoriginal, derivative, and filled with cliches. It pretty much combines Top Gun with An Officer and a Gentleman, and makes it about the Coast Guard, or at least a special ... read morebranch of the Coast Guard. The basic plot outline, characterizations, and training montages are all things that have been seen countless times before. The film is also pretty long, too long in fact. 2 hours and 18 minutes could have easilt been whittled down to about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The flow could have been much better, and the film would not have dragged as much in some places.

    Now the good stuff. Making this about the Coast Guard is an inspired choice. They never seem to get the lvoe they deserve, cinematically and otherwise. This made an interesting topic for a movie, too bad the story built around the concept was something I already covered above. I liked the acting too. The cast is good, filled with lots of familiar names and faces, including well-known people, as well as tons of "that guys". The performances are pretty good, given the material. Each actors gives exactly what is required of them, and they don't half ass it. Call me a softie, but I actually liked the big revelation scene between Costner and Kutcher, where the audience is provided with some character depth and backstory, making the chacters truly people to care about. I really liked the camera work. Lots of nice outdoor stuff, and I noticed several different types of cameras used during some of the montages. ABout those montages- yeah, they are cliched and all of that, but they are done with such energy, that I didn't mind putting my brain on hold and just having fun with it. Having been a lifeguard, I can sort of relate to this movie, since what is depicted in this movie is like what I did, but on steroids, and a million times harder and more stressful. I think what I liked the most though, were the action sewuences. I thought they were well done and the fact that the practical effects and the CGI blended seamlessly makes them even better.

    This movie pretty much delivers what you'd expect from the trailer, and, despite its flaws, it gets a mild pass from me. The way I see it, these types of movies are okay, and necessary to have in small doses. Not everything can be a masterpiece. If every film was, life would be boring, and who wants that?
  • fb733768972
    January 14, 2010
    fb733768972
    Loved it! The acting, story, and visuals are all impressive! I give major props to the Guardian!
  • bbcfloridabound
    October 13, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    Finally a Movie that shows the life of a Rescue Swimmer in The United States Coast Guard, Many a Watermen?s Un-thanked Hero. Kevin Costner plays an excellent part as a master Chief, and Brain Geraghty plays the new Student / Swimmer coming up with something to prove. Don't enter ... read moreinto this movie thinking its going to be like Top Gun, far From it. If you have a family member in the Coast Guard or One who is a SAR Rescue Swimmer in the Navy, You need to see this. 4 1/2 Stars.
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    One of my favorite movies of the decade. I've always been a fan of Kevin Costner's movies and this one's probably my favorite of his. I've always said that the only branch of the military I've ever pondered joining is the Coast Guard, and rescue swimmer was always interesting to ... read moreme, so I was bound to like this movie beforehand. But I didn't know I'd like it as much as I did! Kutcher is a rescue swimmer hopeful who's even more gifted of a swimmer than the teacher (Costner), who holds all the swimming records, but Kutcher is also young and immature - does he have what it takes, and what will the soon to be retiring Costner think of his new teaching job and this brash youngster? Excellent movie with notable drama and action that I'll never forget.
  • ironclad1609
    February 24, 2009
    ironclad1609
    This movie wants to be for the Coast Guard what "Top Gun" was for the Air Force or "Ladder 49" for firemen. And that pretty much works, even though their training is portrayed as quite tedious and damn hard work. The initial action scenes are well filmed and exciting, then the tr... read moreaining program takes over and does cause a few rather slow moments and several old stereotypes of most military films (tough guys, bar brawl bonding, the talented rookie, etc.). The film still managed to remain entertaining, because the acting is decent and everything is well done. Sadly, the showdown is horribly predictable in its melodramatic result and too much like other solutions already seen in the genre. Although the mystic element seems out of place it does add an interesting note after all. Not bad for a rainy afternoon, no more, no less.

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Critic Reviews

Stephanie Zacharek
September 29, 2006
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

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 act... Full Review

Scott Bowles
September 29, 2006
Scott Bowles, USA Today

Kutcher may soon be ready to anchor a Hollywood sea voyage. But for now, he's still a touch out of his depth. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
September 29, 2006
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

The Guardian does the job required: nothing more, nothing less, and nothing fancy. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
September 29, 2006
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The Guardian has the feel of a Sunday feature in a newspaper more than a drama. Full Review

Steven Rea
September 29, 2006
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Costner is suitably Costneresque -- that is, low-key, stoic, and capable of a wry turn here or there.

Roger Moore
September 29, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

A workmanlike story, an unusual setting, a game cast and a righteous message kind of get lost in the film's excesses. And an imbalance in the leads hampers this by-the-book service-academy drama. Full Review

Lisa Rose
September 29, 2006
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger

Surrounding the flashy heroics, however, is a lot of stilted drama. Unresolved subplots make the movie longer than it needs to be. Full Review

Kyle Smith
September 29, 2006
Kyle Smith, New York Post

If you're going to drop $70 mil or so on a movie, you should go ahead and blow $9.99 on the deluxe tier of cable service so you can see how such characters are created on Rescue Me.

Elizabeth Weitzman
September 29, 2006
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

A popcorn flick like this does best when it sticks to shallow waters. Full Review

Colin Covert
September 29, 2006
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

A decade after the commercial and critical flop of Waterworld nearly drowned his career, Kevin Costner is back to sea in The Guardian, and this time his dignity remains afloat. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Guardian Trivia

  • In this movie a man works his butt off the become a cost guard, falls in love, and loses his best friend and co-worker  Answer »
  • In which film does Ashton Kutcher wear an orange life jacket whilst in the raging sea?  Answer »
  • In which movie does the main character, played by Kevin Cosner, dround?  Answer »
  • Which actor starred in Rumor has It and The Guardian?  Answer »
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