Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Directed by Brad Peyton, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island follows Josh Hutcherson’s Sean Anderson as he embarks on another adventure inspired by Jules Verne’s works – with the character joined by his stepfather (Dwayne Johnson’s Hank), a quirky helicopter pilot (Luis Guzmán’s Gabato) and his teen daughter (Vanessa Hudgens’ Kailani), and his long-lost grandfather (Michael Caine’s Alexander). It’s clear immediately that Journey 2: The Mysterious Island boasts a far more cinematic and polished atmosphere than its entertaining yet chintzy predecessor, 2008’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, although it’s equally apparent that the picture remains just as erratically-paced and forgettable as Eric Brevig’s original endeavor – with the movie, for the most part, unable to wholly (or even partially) separate itself from its myriad of family-friendly, special-effects-dominated brethren. There’s little doubt, then, that Journey 2: The Mysterious Island‘s tolerable atmosphere is due mostly to the efforts of its exceedingly charming cast, as Hutcherson’s affable work here is certainly matched (and often eclipsed) by his unusually talented costars. (Johnson and Caine are superb, of course, and yet it’s Guzmán, cast as the film’s much-needed comic relief, who ultimately walks away with the title of M.V.P.) By the time the excessive (but watchable) climax rolls around, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island has cemented its place as a hit-and-miss blockbuster that ultimately gets the job done in as lazy and familiar a manner as one could envision.

**1/2 out of ****

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