Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) returns in this sequel to 2008’s Journey to the Center of the Earth. The teen explorer and his step-father (Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson) are off to find Jules Verne’s famous Mysterious Island, after decrypting a message that gives them the co-ordinates.
Although Verne’s Mysterious Island is a sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, rather than his Journey to the Center of the Earth, this film is actually a mash-up of these and other classic adventure tales such as: Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. All tales of amazing and hidden places and, if this interpretation is correct, all pointing to the same place on the map.
Filling out the rest of the cast is Michael Caine as Grandpa Anderson, Luis Guzman as the pilot who takes them to the island and Vanessa Hudgens as his daughter. With trite characters all around, it’s not the performances that make Journey 2 the success it is, it’s the wondrous island itself, in well utilized 3D.
We say, “See this one with your kids, on the big screen, in 3D. It’s fun.”
TAYLOR: This film is completely ridiculous and unbelievable, but it’s a film for kids, so I’m gonna try to review it from a kid’s point of view. It was awesome! If Indiana Jones were a boy…
HOWE: I can’t wait for my son to be a little bit older to enjoy movies like this. Yes it’s far fetched. Yes it’s silly, but we had films like this when we were younger, remember The Goonies? Or is it because you are getting old Mr. Taylor? It did make me laugh, more than I expected from a kids movie.
TAYLOR: Yeah, you did laugh a lot. There was a lot of laughter throughout, plus a couple screams and a lot of 3D dodging.
HOWE: The island looks fantastic with its vivid colours, the effects didn’t go overboard, keeping things simple that kids can relate to. You have to see this on the big screen in 3D, otherwise it won’t do it justice. Like Michael Caine said, this movie was made for 3D.
TAYLOR: I’ll admit, despite being initially disappointed after a few minutes, once we got to the island, I bought into the potpourri of classic whimsy. I think a worldly six-year-old could handle the creepy crawlies. There’s certainly nothing offensive in this film.
HOWE: I agree with you, nothing even close to strong language. If this is the quality of kids movies that are being made, that’s fine with me.
TAYLOR: It is possible that some teens are gonna be “too cool for this,” but I think older kids could like it too. The main character is 17 and if the film won me over. My mom says I’m cool.
Taylor gives Journey 2: the Mysterious Island 3 giant bees out of 5.
Howe gives it 3.5 stinky lizard eggs out of 5
Brian Taylor and Peter Howe are movie reviewers living in the Okanagan.
