Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Last time the Journey was to the centre of the earth, now young adventurer Sean Anderson and his step dad Hank go on a rescue mission to find Sean’s Grandfather Alexander who went missing two years ago in search of the Mysterious Island.

Last time
the Journey was to the centre of the earth, now young adventurer Sean Anderson
and his step dad Hank go on a rescue mission to find Sean’s Grandfather
Alexander who went missing two years ago in search of the Mysterious Island.

The books of Jules Verne are obvious sources for big
screen adaptations, few authors can capture the imagination of adults and
children so effortlessly. Whilst Journey 2 may play hard and fast with the
Verne mythology, it’s all done with a knowing helping of cheese and so much
gusto it becomes an unexpectedly enjoyable movie.

Brendan
Fraser may have opted out
of this sequel, but Josh Hutcherson returns to play Sean Anderson. After
he gets an encoded message from his Grandfather Alexander (Michael Caine),
Sean’s step-dad Hank (Dwayne Johnson) opts to use the situation to try
and get to know Sean better, and of course to keep a watchful eye over him.

The combination of Dwayne
Johnson and living legend Michael Caine shouldn’t work, but oddly
the two make for a winning double act. They trade insults and mock each other
but naturally they grow to like each other over the course of the their
adventure.

Being a family
movie, no time is wasted with needless back-story or exposition and it’s barely
20 minutes into the film that they have already crash-landed on the island.

High School
Musical star Vanessa
Hudgens’ character Kailani is a by the numbers love interest for Sean but
considering there are only a few cast members her presence is functional even
if it isn’t essential. Luis
Guzman as her Father adds some good old slap-stick comedy and it certainly
is good clean family fun.

The artist formerly
known as The Rock even gets to showcase his singing voice, and credit to
him for being a good sport. Michael Caine is a national treasure, and he
joyfully plays an eccentric adventurer who even in his golden years has the
adventurous spirit of a man half his age.

Back in 1978
Michael Caine fought off an army of killer bees in The Swarm, some 35
years later he’s riding a giant bee over a fantastical island. Even if it’s an
unintentional joke, film geeks can relish in the bizarre moment with his former
nemesis

At 85 minutes the
movie is not on screen long enough to get bored of it, the youngsters will
enjoy the special effects and broad comedy, and the older viewer can escape to
a fun and lighthearted old-fashioned adventure. It might not reach the heights
of Indiana Jones, but it’s a bright and breezy action flick for all the
family.

The closing moments
promise a Journey from the Earth to the Moon, based on the success of this
second film a third Journey will be in the works in no time.