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Review

Douglas plays a Secret Service agent who once took a bullet for Reagan. When a plot to kill the current President is discovered to be an inside job, all the agents are given polygraph tests. Unfortunately, Douglas fails the test (due to a major indiscretion that won't be revealed here) and is soon the number one suspect — and on the run. Sutherland is the by-the-book former protégé who's hot on his trail. This is tried-and-true formula filmmaking, deviating not once from the well-worn, cliched path. Still, it's very slick, written with some smarts, efficiently directed and acted, and kills two hours painlessly. It's basically the cinematic equivalent of a comfy pair of slippers. You can readily watch it with your conservative grandfather and not worry about too much foul language, sex, graphic violence, edginess or moral quandaries to detract from the easy, Saturday-matinee experience. In fact the only distinction The Sentinel can boast is that the President is played by David Rasche of "Sledge Hammer!" fame — fun casting, to be sure (of course, it's just a stock role). Enter with low expectations, and you'll likely find The Sentinel an agreeable diversion. And SLEDGE in '08!

 -- Dean C. Galanis