The plot, loosely based on no less than three classic adventure novels -"Mysterious Island," "Gulliver's Travels" and "Robinson Crusoe" - is fairly thin and contrived. Although the lead (Josh Hutcherson) turns in a decent performance, the token hottie Vanessa Hudgens does nothing here to advance her career. The film is carried almost entirely by the likability and charisma of Dwayne Johnson (who knew The Rock could sing and play ukulele?) and a jovial/cantankerous Michael Caine, with some nice comedic moments provided by Luis Guzman.
The film begins with Sean Anderson, now 17 years old (Hutcherson, reprising his role from the first film), receiving a coded distress signal from a mysterious island which does not appear on any maps. After helping him crack the code, Sean's new step-father Hank (Johnson) reluctantly allows him to seek out the island, but on the condition that Hank come along. En route, they enlist the services of a hustling helicopter pilot (Guzman) and his strong-willed daughter (Hudgens). After the group survives a catastrophic chopper crash (unscathed, of course!), they encounter a strange and mysterious ecosystem where butterflies have 6 foot wingspans and adult elephants stand no more than 18 inches tall.
The hapless adventurers are rescued from a giant lizard attack by the sender of the coded message, none other than (spoiler alert!) Sean's grandfather (Michael Caine). Alexander Anderson is a devout "Vernian" who had discovered clues hidden in the afore-mentioned three classic novels that revealed the island's location, which led to his mysterious disappearance. After a few years stranded on the island, Alexander has not only built himself a fabulous home in the forest, complete with working elevator, but also a working radio. Apparently the old man has been keeping himself busy.
One thing that's hard to fault is the effective use of 3D to bring depth and a sense of immersion to this majestic landscape. This is no inferior upconverted 3D, but authentic stereoscopic 3D footage, shot on location in Hawaii using high-end 3D camera rigs, enhanced by state of the art 3D CGI effects. Mountain views reveal sweeping panoramic vistas of lost civilizations, and precarious heights are dizzying in their depth and realism. 3D is also used effectively in close-ups to bring a sense of intimacy and a "you are there" feeling to moments of quiet dialog and exposition. Also, the CGI beasties, both small and large, are wonderfully rendered, seeming as solid as the human actors (perhaps more so). The tiny elephants in particular stand out with their natural motion and rippling, finely textured skin. If you have the option of seeing it in 3D, do so. It's more than just a gimmick.
But the story is a bit easier to criticize. I realize the sense of impending danger is necessary in order to heighten the suspense, but some of the plot elements are too far-fetched to let pass without comment: an enormous island sinking completely under the sea over the course of a few hours? A 100-year old submarine with advanced technology and a sleek design with magical batteries that can be fully charged and operational in scant seconds with the help of an oversized electric eel? Yet despite these (and many other) plot holes, the film is still mostly enjoyable due to endearing and entertaining performances by Guzman, Caine and Johnson. It may not be award-worthy (except on its technical merits), but there are worse ways to spend a Sunday afternoon with the kids than going on this "Journey".
| Movie title | Journey 2: The Mysterious Island |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2012 |
| MPAA Rating | PG |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | Some movies cry out for sequels. Others make you cry when you find out they're getting a sequel. |
