If one looks at the cinematic adaptations of novelist Chris Van Allsburg's works, the theme of damaged childhoods becomes readily apparent. His most recent to hit the big screen, "The Polar Express," dealt with a kid who'd lost his childhood innocence, while the 1995 version of "Jumangi" concerned a man-child stuck in a board game for decades.
And now comes "Zathura," a story of quarreling kids in the shadow of a divorce who are shown the light before it's too late. It will likely remind viewers of that earlier Robin Williams/Kirsten Dunst film not only because of the theme, but also due to the catalyst that jumpstarts and then fuels the plot.
You see, just like in "Jumangi," the kids here discover an old board game that, when played, unleashes a flurry of unexpected, wild and sometimes dangerous developments that threaten the kids, cause all sorts of property damage and keep the story moving, often at a breakneck pace.
And to top it off, there's even an adult trapped inside the game experience -- from having played it as a kid long ago -- just like the first time around. That said (and notwithstanding the fact that in the novel world it was something of a sequel), there are differences. While "Jumangi" started in the kids' house and then spread outdoors with its menagerie of exotic wildlife, this one mostly stays inside the home.
That's a good thing since it's been ripped from the Earth (with a small chunk of ground attached to its underside) and deposited somewhere in space. And rather than zoo animals running amok, we have malfunctioning robots, meteor storms, hungry reptilian aliens and other such sci-fi elements.
As was the case with "Elf," director Jon Favreau -- who works from David Koepp and John Kamps' adaptation of Van Allsburg's book -- holds back on going wild with state of the art special effects. Whether that was a limited budget or wholly artistic based decision can be debated. Yet, there's no denying the effects give the film a little bit of throwback charm to the days of old -- and they certainly go along with the antiquated look of the board game, although they're not quite that retro -- that might appeal to adults "forced" to view this with their kids.
Otherwise, it's squarely aimed at the preteen and under male demographic that will likely groove on the frenetic and sometimes harrowing action. They may also identify with one or both of the main characters consisting of Jonah Bobo playing the 6-year-old who thinks he's second best to his older brother, played by Josh Hutcherson, who wants nothing to do with him.
Not surprisingly, they'll eventually bond through their traumatic joint experience that gains some relevance and emotional resonance following a literal and figurative late in the game disclosure. Until then, however, the constant bickering between them, and the whimpering and repeated apologies on the part of the younger one grow old rather quickly (just like real life, meaning that part's realistic but not exactly enjoyable).
Thankfully, once the action and adventure get cranked up, much of that's circumvented. If anything, Favreau certainly keeps the pace going at a good clip, although the material's effectiveness varies throughout the offering. At first -- starting with a meteor shower that rains and smashes through the boys' living room -- things are fun in a sort of quirky sci-fi fashion.
In the middle, however, the film starts spinning its wheels as it becomes ever more episodic with each turn of the game, and thus loses some of its allure. That's especially true when the filmmakers don't always do a good enough job in creating imaginative developments for each boy's turn at the game, or providing a reason for the boys simply not just racing through the game to get to the end (and thus presumably go back home). A few script tweaks here and there could have made a significant difference.
Once the lizard-like aliens known as the Zorgons appear, however, things really pick up, at least as far as suspense is concerned for a kids movie. In fact, this one has moments right up there with "Jurassic Park" in terms of potentially scaring the pants off the little ones. Favreau does a decent job ratcheting up the thrills and chills as the characters try to accomplish their goal.
Beyond the kids, Kristen Stewart plays their sexpot, teenage sister (her skimpy shorts might be as unsettling for parents as the scary bits are for the kids), and Dax Shepard is a stray astronaut they pick up who's been stuck in the game and serves as their guide, assistant and rescuer at times. Meanwhile, Tim Robbins appears as the busy dad in segments that bookend the main story.
Passable and sometimes rather thrilling for adults, and likely an overall blast for preteen boys (and girls), "Zathura" may play like just a space-version of "Jumangi," but it delivers a rather entertaining and enjoyable ride. It rates as a 6 out of 10.
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