Personal Sergeant (2004) User Reviews (6)

Nice Ensemble Acting

[michaelgnat · 8/10 · 26 May 2005]

Saw this at a private screening in NYC.

A Korean War vet comes to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter -- yes, there are four main characters, not two per the present IMDb site -- and manages to forge a surprisingly (because non-Hollywood) strong bond with the young soccer- playing girl.

The script avoids stereotypical goings-on; everything seems pretty darn real and nicely balanced. No mushy gushy, no 100% cures, no neatly tied ends. Just a really interesting shift and flow among the relationships, some unexpected but believable twists and turns.

The husband and wife each get their moments two, and the relationship between them -- and between them and the older/younger generation -- is partly what gives this film such a nice ensemble feeling.

The rest of the cast includes other vets, who we meet in a wonderful little scene at their 'club'.

smart family drama

[galore_mom · 8/10 · 21 July 2006]

A smart drama about the contemporary American family. When mom and dad have to work, who watches the kid? When grandpa has to live with his son and daughter-in-law, how does he hang on to his self-esteem? And when the kid is getting too old to be watched by a baby-sitter but isn't old enough to take care of herself, conflict ensues. The chemistry between grandpa (Victor Argo) and his granddaughter (Celine Marget) is palpable. They are top-notch actors supported by a strong ensemble. Although it deals with a serious subject matter, there are many humorous moments in it. This is truly a film for the whole family to watch -- together. Soccer fans, especially, will enjoy. It reminded me a bit of "Bend it Like Beckham," but for the kids' set.

A grandfather and his granddaughter face off

[stephkron · 10/10 · 25 May 2005]

A very touching movie about a spunky young girl who plays soccer and her moody grandfather. When the girl's mother has to start working longer hours at a clothing store, the girl's moody grandfather must start taking care of her after school. The development of this relationship is sweet and entertaining. Also, it's something we don't see depicted very often in the movies. The acting in the movie is generally excellent. As the girl bond's to her grandfather and begins to reject her father, family tensions increase. I was particularly impressed by the actress Julie Carpenter, who portrays the girl's mother. She brought a very real quality to this character who tries to keep peace in the family.

very realistic family situation

[jogle-4 · 8/10 · 27 May 2005]

This was a good movie! It was a true to life story about a relationship between a little girl and her grandpa. I could relate to them. It was a more believable story than many you see today. The actor who played the grandfather was grumpy yet, lovable.

The mother in the story, portrayed by Julie Carpenter, was very realistic as well. She helps the viewer(s) to relate to the real trials of a working mother. The husband/Dad character was humorous.

My daughter,age 6, watched this movie as well. She liked the story line. But, the reoccurring profanity/1 phrase made me cringe.

Overall,I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it as a family movie.

Victor Argo elevates this well above your average family fare

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 5 January 2011]

Crusty Korean war veteran Chuck Manetta (a marvelously cantankerous portrayal by late, great character actor Victor Argo) is less than thrilled when his wimpy English teacher son Paul (well played by Jerry Della Salla) makes him babysit his spunky soccer obsessed ten-year-old granddaughter Jenny (a lively and winning performance by the cute Celine Marget). However, things perk up when Chuck starts whipping Jenny into shape so she can play on the local grade school varsity soccer team. Writer/director Anthony V. Orkin wisely avoids cheap easy sentiment in favor of a more frank, realistic, and evenly balanced drama that presents all the characters as perfectly credible and engaging warts and all people who have to find feasible ways of overcoming their flaws and resolving their problems. Moreover, Argo's delightfully gruff and curmudgeonly presence further ensures that things never get too cloying or sappy. In fact, the strong bond that develops between Chuck and Jenny is genuinely warm, funny, and touching. Argo and Marget both do sterling work in the lead roles, with fine support from Della Salla and Julie Carpenter as Jenny's sensible, but harried mother Ellen. Pat Irwin's jaunty score makes neat use of a rousing marital drum riff. Tom Lucak's crisp cinematography likewise does the trick. A nice little film.

True indie about real relationships

[paulabernstein · 8/10 · 16 November 2022]

The premise could easily be simplistic - a curmudgeonly Korean War veteran ends up reluctantly babysitting his granddaughter when his daughter-in-law gets a job. Marital tension ensues. The acting can be a bit uneven, but the main characters of the grandpa and the kid are played by real pros. Victor Argo, in particular, as the grumpy grampa, is outstanding. He was a real gem of an actor, known for his work in films by Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese, among others, and this was one of his last films, if not the last. This is clearly a low-budget indie and you've got to applaud the filmmakers for going for it with this nuanced and original little film. It's a good family watch, though some prudish folks might take offense about a particularly word.