OK, let's can the comparisons to Jumanji. You've all read about that in other reviews. Having said that, the movie can be summed up as a modern version of those Saturday afternoon matinees in years gone by. It's a popcorn movie that would have been made by Disney in the 1960's with Fred MacMurray as the dad and Don Knott's as the astronaut.
Set your expectations correctly. This movie is targeted to 10 year-olds and that's what it is. Your life won't change after seeing it and you won't be talking about it with other adults at the book club meeting. It's a fast-moving, enjoyable film with a nice story and some typical characters. The style is particularly cool with a decidedly retro slant; especially the design of the game.
Acting is OK. Tim Robbins is wooden and the kids are smarmy (especially the younger one with the patented "look sad and confused" face). 15-year old Kristen Stewart as sister, Lisa, is beautiful and I can see her career growing into one of heavier roles in a few years. She has the eyes, cheek bones and appeal of an actress like, say, Kiera Knightly without the pretension. Though her role in this film is disposable, keep an eye on her in the future.
Thankfully, the movie's effects are not ALL CGI and it doesn't get lost in effects-for-effects-sake land. They even use puppets! Where have you gone, Ray Harryhausen?
Film makers seem to feel the need for hammering a morality lesson into kid movies and this is no exception. In this case the moral lesson is, "be kind to your siblings because they may not always be around." Yeah, OK. thanks. That is a lame 1990's-and-beyond technique that is annoying and plain dumb. Hollywood shouldn't teach us morality, they should entertain us. Just make the movie, dammit.
All in all an enjoyable, family-oriented movie that you will watch again on DVD or on TV and enjoy it even more the second time. Oh, and I wish they made a game that looked like that. I'd buy it today.
Set your expectations correctly. This movie is targeted to 10 year-olds and that's what it is. Your life won't change after seeing it and you won't be talking about it with other adults at the book club meeting. It's a fast-moving, enjoyable film with a nice story and some typical characters. The style is particularly cool with a decidedly retro slant; especially the design of the game.
Acting is OK. Tim Robbins is wooden and the kids are smarmy (especially the younger one with the patented "look sad and confused" face). 15-year old Kristen Stewart as sister, Lisa, is beautiful and I can see her career growing into one of heavier roles in a few years. She has the eyes, cheek bones and appeal of an actress like, say, Kiera Knightly without the pretension. Though her role in this film is disposable, keep an eye on her in the future.
Thankfully, the movie's effects are not ALL CGI and it doesn't get lost in effects-for-effects-sake land. They even use puppets! Where have you gone, Ray Harryhausen?
Film makers seem to feel the need for hammering a morality lesson into kid movies and this is no exception. In this case the moral lesson is, "be kind to your siblings because they may not always be around." Yeah, OK. thanks. That is a lame 1990's-and-beyond technique that is annoying and plain dumb. Hollywood shouldn't teach us morality, they should entertain us. Just make the movie, dammit.
All in all an enjoyable, family-oriented movie that you will watch again on DVD or on TV and enjoy it even more the second time. Oh, and I wish they made a game that looked like that. I'd buy it today.