Language: English
Cast: Kevin Costner (Ben Randall), Ashton Kutcher (Jake Fischer), Melissa Sagemiller (Emily Thomas), Bonnie Bramlett (Maggie McGlone), Clancy Brown (Capt. William Hadley), Sela Ward (Helen Randall), Neal McDonough (Jack Skinner), John Heard (Frank Larson), Brian Geraghty (Hodge), Dulé Hill (Ken Weatherly) and Shelby Fenner (Cate).
Producer: Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson
Director: Andrew Davis
Writing credits: Ron L. Brinkerhoff
Edited by: Dennis Virkler and Thomas J. Nordberg
Director of photography: Stephen St. John
Music: Trevor Rabin
Release Date: September 29, 2006
Production House: Touchstone Pictures and Beacon Pictures
Running Time: 139 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Review

Kevin Costner is back doing what he has done in many films playing a down-and-nearly out cynic who re-learns about life. And in The Guardian teaching him life’s lessons is not a pretty little lady as in his other films but Hollywood’s latest heartthrob Ashton Kutcher.
Ashton’s cockiness is reminiscent of the other Hollywood heartthrob Tom Cruise’s role in Top Gun only in this case Kutcher is a Coast Guard Rescue swimmer not an air force pilot.

Costner plays Ben Randall a famous rescue swimmer with the American Coast Guard who opts to teach after his wife leaves him and he looses his crew in a fatal accident. At the elite ‘A School’ he whips into shape their training program as he teaches his mouthy student Jake Fisher (Ashton Kutcher) that there’s more to being a rescue swimmer than just being a good swimmer. Ashton’s character in turn makes the world weary Randall realize that all is not lost in the course of some awkward scenes, confrontations, and real hilarious bonding sessions. Kutcher’s ‘duh’ look of his “The 70s Show” character Kelso comes in handy in giving comic relief in a film that will be remembered for its awesome visuals of Man Vs the Ocean. The waves, the winds, the tide and the Coast Guard are indeed a sight to behold. A must see of the effects alone, although the performances given by Kutcher and Costner adds to this over two-hour long action flick that delves into the mentor-mentored relationship in the bargain.

Sidelined in favor for the Navy this movie made with the American Coast Guard is homage to the men committed to save lives rather than defend territory, till now the unsung heroes. Director Andrew Davis and his superb technical team with authentic information and settings provided by the Coast Guard give visibility and glamour to this wing of the American forces.