Director: Rob Letterman
Cast: Jack Black, Amy Ryan, Dylan Minnette
Running Time: 1 hour 43 minutes
Certificate: PG
Release Date: 5th February
The GOOSEBUMPS books managed to capture the imagination of a horror-loving generation of 90s kids (myself included) who clung onto every gruesome word author, R.L Stein, produced. The announcement of a PG GOOSEBUMPS movie with Jack Black was therefore met with a certain degree of trepidation by some as it seemed the iconic horror would be traded for safe family fun.
The action involves Zach, a new kid in town, accidentally releasing all of the GOOSEBUMPS monsters from character R.L Stein’s (Jack Black’s) magical first edition books. Jack Black and co end up chasing every monster from the GOOSEBUMPS back catalogue around town in a JUMANJI-style adventure in an effort get them back into their books and save the town from deadly destruction.
Ryan Lee and Jillian Bell give the film a charmingly funny and light-hearted tone. Lee plays a Millhouse-esque bumbling sidekick, whilst Bell’s kooky aunt character wouldn’t be out of place in BRIDESMAIDS. One of the film’s main strengths lies in its ability to make an audience of all ages laugh, as there’s just as many over the top slapstick gags as there are witty STPEHEN KING digs. This comedic tone is balanced against a more sentimental side as Jack Black’s character learns to trust his daughter, and our main protagonist Zach develops feelings for her, whist also learning how to deal with the loss of his father. Okay, the sentiment may seem a bit cheesy but luckily it’s saved by how funny the film manages to be.
As the action unfolds and more scary creatures are released onto the screen, it’s amazing just how monstrously brilliant the special FXs are. The yeti and giant prayer mantis are particularly mesmerising, and although the monsters may be more fluffy than frightening, it’s clear that there’s enough wow-factor to keep kids from 3 all the way to 30 engaged. The final part of the story starts to play out like a greatest hits album of monsters, all orchestrated by the ever-scary Slappy doll.
As mentioned before, GOOSEBUMPS has many similarities with JUMANJI in its story, as both films have the same otherworldly fantasy feel. Influences from TOY SOLDIERS are also mixed in as the kids and Jack Black go to battle with gnomes, toys, flying dogs and more.
The film may not have the same creepy horror DNA as its distant GOOSEBUMPS books and TV show relatives but it does contain the same magic and unique fun. Although the GOOSEBUMPS books were genuinely terrifying to read as a 90s kid, I have to admit that it may have been tricky to translate that horror to the modern day (especially with stories about evil sponges). I’m therefore delighted that GOOSEBUMPS has managed to translate its success to the big screen and that a new generation of kids can enjoy the monster magic!
Verdict
