Many of Hollywood's gamer he-men have ignored the received wisdom against acting alongside animals and children.
Arnie took on a class of tykes in Kindergarten Cop and Eddie Murphy set up his own childmindng service in Daddy Day Care.
The latest Tinseltown stud to show his feminine side is Vin Diesel, who finds himself keeping house with a couple of truculent teenagers and their young siblings.
He plays Shane Wolfe, a crack navy SEAL charged with rescuing a top scientist when the special op goes pear-shaped and the boffin is bumped off.
Rather than move Shane somewhere less sensitive, military top brass decide he's got to look after the scientist's kids, who could be the assassin's next targets.
There's teen rebel Zoe (Snow), sullen 14-year-old Seth (Thieriot), eight-year-old Ninja wannabe Lulu (York), toddler Peter and baby Tyler.
Gung-ho Shane has to learn to change nappies, negotiate the school run and keep a weather eye open for wrong 'uns who want to get their hands on a secret gizmo hidden in the house.
Diesel shows he's a dab hand at comedy even if the plot labours routinely along and you can guess the outcome in your sleep.
What salvages this is the occasional sharp gag and Vin's apparent ease delivering paternal lines like: "A rookie sniper could drop you like a deer."
It's not going to trouble the Academy Awards but makes for never less than amiable viewing thanks to Vin's engaging presence.
Tim Evans
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