In this follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” the new 3D family adventure “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” begins when young Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson, reprising his role from the first film) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. It’s a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.
Fans of the first film “Journey to the Center of the Earth” should be rather impressed with its sequel haply named “Journey 2 – The Mysterious Island” even though one vital piece of the first film is missing Mr Brendan Fraser but lucky for us the film seems to have the same feel and enjoyment of the first. Fraser carried the first film so when it was announced he wasn’t coming back I had my reservations but that clearly disappeared in the first 5minutes.
The studio was nice enough to screen the film as a family day so the cinema was full with wall to wall children and it’s always a good indication if the kids manage to stay amused for the whole film if it’s any good, I had my two younger cousins with me and they managed to sit through the entire film pretty much without pretty much moving and one of them Amy didn’t take her eyes off the screen the whole time so as far as I can see it in kids eyes it’s a total ‘win’.
This time around Josh Hutchenson steps back into the shoes of Sean Anderson rather easily and is joined by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson playing his step dad Hank who does a pretty great job with the material he had to use, maybe a bit too much of the chest popping but The Rock still brings it. Michael Caine as Sean’s Grand Father, its Michael Caine.. You could give him a stick and tell him to poke someone and he will be brilliant and lastly Vanessa Hudgens who’s obviously been brought in as the ‘love’ interest for Sean pulls off the strong willed attitude her character beckons with ease.
The story itself is pretty good even though some of the dialog was tacky but really can’t expect brilliance with a film titled ‘Journey 2’ can we? But I thoroughly enjoyed kicking back getting sucked in by seeing the ‘Lost City of Atlantis’ on screen plus the 3D was rather sensational as well (not HUGO amazing, but sensational all the same). I found myself enjoying the film as much as the kids around me and to be honest I would love to see a third film it’s only just about to open in the states so I spose only time will tell and well the box office will tell us if we will.
A great fun filled family adventure film, ‘Journey 2 – The Mysterious Island’ is in cinemas now, I give it 4 out of 5 stars.