If 2008's “Journey to the Center of the Earth” set out to show that movies that use 3D technology strictly as a gimmick are the most fun then the family flick's new sequel “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” proves that point.
With visual effects that will cause you to duck, dodge and dive regardless of your age, the comedic adventure is the closest thing to guaranteed entertainment available on the silver screen. Granted, it is more of an amusement park ride than a major motion picture but that will not matter to you once a bunch of big bees swarm into the auditorium and berries bounce off of star Dwayne Johnson's popping pecs into your face.
In “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” which is now playing at movie theaters throughout the Valley, Josh Hutcherson reprises his role as now 17-year-old Sean Anderson, who receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather Hank (Johnson) joins the quest.
Sean and Hank enlist the help of a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzmán) and his strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens) and set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force it under the sea. Once there, they discover that the island is a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes and more than one astonishing secret.
In other words, “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” is one roller-coaster ride after another, each more entertaining – not to mention eye-popping – than the last. There really is not much more to the motion picture than that, which is perfectly fine considering how well it accomplishes it all. This therefore makes the movie fun for all ages.
In fact, the only thing missing is Brendan Fraser, who headlined “Journey to the Center of the Earth” but was unable to fit this followup into his schedule. Johnson does a decent job here and the casting shakeup afforded the screenwriters an easy story about Hutcherson's character rebelling against his new father figure but Fraser just seemed like a better fit.
Of course, said screenwriters leave the door open – make that wide open – for a third installment that would involve an expedition into outer space. Hopefully, if the stars align (hah), Fraser will return alongside both Hutcherson and Johnson making the storyline possibilities out of this world (hah, again).
Regardless, if it does in fact happen and is even a fraction as fun as “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” this film critic would gladly brave giant lizards and swim across the ocean to see it on the big screen. If you only see one movie in 3D this year, this one should be it as you will not likely find one more spectacular in all of 2012.
“Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” (PG – 94 minutes) is now playing at movie theaters throughout the Valley. Visit FirstLook.com for specific showtimes and locations.
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