When Playing With Fire opens, we get a pretty goofy take on what real firefighters and first responders do. Watching the film from California, where large portions of the state are frequently on fire, and people are really losing their homes and lives, was a bit jarring. The film moves past that rather quickly, but this is just a warning to those of you in a burning state. You might have to do some explaining to your kids after the credits roll.
With that out of the way, here’s the deal. Smokejumper Superintendent Jake Carson (John Cena) and his crew (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane, who plays the largely silent Axe) are facing a crisis. Jake is desperate to take over all the smokejumpers when his boss (Dennis Haysbert) retires. However, many of his crew members have left, making it harder for him to prove himself. He’s a terrible boyfriend, leaving his date, Dr. Amy Hicks (Judy Greer), halfway through dinner. His dad passed in a fire when he was young, and he’s still trying to live up to that legacy. He’s tough, he doesn’t cry, despite his much softer-hearted coworker (Key) constantly passing him a tissue, and he certainly doesn’t have time for kids.
Source: IGN.com Playing With Fire Review