Teenager Sean Anderson, played by the competent Josh
Hutcherson (The Hunger Games), sets off on a family, fun packed adventure, to the
Mysterious Island to recover his Grandfather, Legend Michael Caine. His mother’s
boy friend Hank, hammed by the muscle bound Dwayne Johnson (The Scorpion King)
insists on tagging along determined to bond with the troublesome youth. But somehow
they need to fly to the Island and so enlist the annoying Gabato, Luis Guzmán
and his daughter, another young rising star Vanessa Hudgens.
Journey 2 is Director Brad Peyton’s second ‘big’ film and
he handles it well seeing the family genre is so specialised. Once past some awkward
family moments the film comes to life when they crash on the Island and begin
encountering the wonders of the Island. Giant bees and birds, an erupting volcano,
an underwater super sub and spectacular landscapes all contribute to make the
film entertaining if not let down by the awkward relationship between Johnson
and Caine their deadened attempts at humour bouncing of each other with little
effect or laughs.
The two younger actors steal the show and although no
doubt plenty of green screening was used their responses are real enough and
their chemistry believable. Visually the graphics are quick and thrilling and
designed to hold the younger age groups which it does well. Journey 2 begins
slowly but ends well in an impressively dramatic fashion.
68/100
