Apologies for being a little late with this review, but we’ve been battling a rotavirus all week. That said; let’s talk about the basic, cheesy good fun that is Journey to the Center of the Earth. This film is hardly the first version of Jules Verne’s novel to be delivered to the big or the small screen. The classic science fiction novel transported readers to a land of the lost (yes, pun intended) deep within the Earth where man-eating plants, dinosaurs and other dangers await intrepid travelers. The film is also available in 3-D and if you have that option at your local theater I highly recommend it.
Brendan Fraser
I have to confess, I love Brendan Fraser. Whether he’s playing Rick O’Connell in the adventurous Mummy films, George of the Jungle,Adam from Blast from the Past, Dudley Do-Right, George of the Jungle or Rick Cabot in Crash, I enjoy his performances. He can take goofy characters and imbue them with such genuine warmth and humor that you find yourself rooting for them no matter what. In Journey to the Center of the Earth, Fraser portrays Trevor Anderson. Trevor studies plate tectonics (the movement of the Earth’s crust). His research is in danger of being shut down and he’s still missing his brother Max who went missing ten years before and about to spend a couple of weeks with his nephew (Max’s son).
Josh Hutcherson deserves a lot of credit in the role of Sean Anderson. He’s 13 and he behaves like most other 13 year olds would when he gets stuck with his Uncle. When Sean’s mother drops him off, she also drops off a box of Max’s stuff that she wants Trevor to have. Trevor discovers Max’s copy of Jules Verne’s novel with notations made throughout the margins. The notations mean something to Trevor and soon, he and Max are flying Iceland to begin a journey that will change their lives.
Good, Cheesy Fun
This is a cotton candy summer film. It’s intense, like a really satisfying roller coaster ride (and I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if we don’t see this is as an attraction at a Disney park sometime in the near future). There’s some sad moments and some scary moments (the giant piranhas are pretty tough for younger kids), but ultimately it’s a fluffy adventure fun.
What I Liked
The relationship between Trevor and Max didn’t feel forced. Their guide played by Anita Briem brought some good fun to the table. I loved the special effects and the falling scenes were ‘scary’ but hilarious at the same time. The blending of humor with the scary took the edge off.
What I Didn’t Like
I could have lived without the dinosaur drool. But the kids in the audience were suitably grossed out and pleased at the same time, so I’m probably in a minority on this one.
Parents Take Notice
The film is PG and the language is very tame. There’s a really funny joke about ‘schist’ rock formations that earns the titter it deserves and that’s about it. Kids under 8 may be a little intimidated by the piranhas (it’s a fairly intense sequence) and by the dinosaur pursuit. My daughter experienced the former more than the latter.
Final Verdict
Definitely worth watching. Not the greatest movie ever made and certainly far from the worst. As I said earlier, it’s good, cheesy fun for a hot summer afternoon.