Warner Bros. Pictures has struck again with their sequel to the critically acclaimed “Journey To The Center Of The Earth.”
“Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” is well equipped with an all-star cast and plot line that is sure to please audiences across the world, if they are under ten years old.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (Hank) teams up with Josh Hutcherson (Sean), Vanessa Hudgens (Kailani), Luis Guzman (Gabato) and Michael Caine (Alexander) in the adventurous search for a mysterious and mythological island. Their journey includes several plot twists and even more encounters of the great unknown.
Hank’s role as Sean’s stepfather builds up the predictable plot line of a growing bond. It is inevitable that a certain point in their journey throughout the film will change their relationship into one of mutual affection and tolerance. The efforts put forth by Hank to bond with his step-son can only be described as stereotypically cheesy.
His actions are meant to guide the “troubled” teen but, as in many plots before this film, they push Sean further away. Sean also falls into a predictable role being that he is a teen with a bad relationship with his step-father. His blatant lack of regard for rules and authority follow the behavioral path of teenagers through the many generations before him.
Gabato, played by Luis Guzman, brought a sense of comedic relief to the film as the father of Kailani. The purpose he wishes to fulfill by accompanying Hank and Sean to the Mysterious Island is to send Kailani to college. His actions as a father stand out above his comedic cowardice.
On numerous occasions, the cowardly Gabato cracks one-liners that leave the audience with a laugh. His supporting role flows well with the personality of Alexander, played by Michael Caine.
As an absentee grandparent, Alexander seeks to make up for his relationship with a grandson by urging him to embark on this journey in the first place. He acts as a guide with extensive knowledge on the land and symbolism behind the journey.
An aspect of the film that makes a difference in its quality is the storyline that becomes an adaptation to the Vernian goals and myths. Vernians, zealous followers of Jules Verne and his writings, believe in a mysterious island that can be found by reading the clues in his novels.
There were many technical aspects of the film that increased my enjoyment and left me wondering how they were done. I believe that the special effects crew for the film did their job and more.
The 3D experience did enhance action scenes and brought about many an “oh!” and “ah!.” An electric eel was illuminated to a shocking brightness while still having realistic features. As water rushed through the scene at one point, it was as if it was surrounding the audience. In this aspect, the film was successful and enjoyable.
The technical qualities of the film were severely let down by the level of acting. Dwayne Johnson was not a decent choice for the male lead in this film. His interpretation of the script not only let down the other actors, but it displayed a disregard for the effort in the film.
Also, the film has situations that are unrealistic. Even though the story is fictional, there needs to be an accurate representation of situations. There needs to be a sense of consistency and the film lacks just that.
Taking into consideration that this is a film meant for audiences of all ages, it met the requirement of being entertaining. The standards of entertainment, as they change throughout the levels of ratings, were relatively low when it came to this film.
The overall experience of “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” was mediocre at best. The special effects thrilled me but I was left in a state of disappointment when it came to the acting.
Rating: C+