The band Journey was really on to something with their hit song Don’t Stop Believing. If you want your dreams to come true, you’ve got to believe. This movie is an adventurous “journey” (yeah, I had to) for Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) to learn exactly that, thanks mostly to his niece and nephew and their vivid imaginations. Gumballs, Ferraris, epic battles, and a kiss from a damsel in distress are all part of the fantasy that makes up this bedtime story. In this film there is a dashed line between fairy tale and reality and that is what makes it special. It has a touch of Disney magic and a touch of Adam Sandler comedy to make it fun for the whole family. Yes it is cliché and predictable, but it is funny, enjoyable, and very cute. That one word probably describes it best . . . cute. The story, the dialogue, the imagination, the niece and nephew played by Laura Ann Kesling and Jonathan Morgan Heit, and even their big-eyed pet Bugsy are all adorable. Oh yeah, so is Keri Russell in the role of Jill.
Even with all the cuteness this movie has, it lacks a little in quality. There is a good amount of character presentation along with the foundation of the story during the opening of this movie and yet the viewer has a tough time identifying with any of the major characters. Adam Sandler’s forte is presenting approachable characters that people can relate to and connect with. It is a large part of his extraordinary success in films. I struggled to figure out Adam’s character in this movie. Is he a slacker, a genius, a lazy bum, a self-centered dreamer, a sleeping giant, or just simply a talented guy who patiently waits for his big break? I couldn’t put my finger on it and thus I didn’t know where he was coming from during the movie. Same goes for his sister Wendy played by Courteney Cox as well as Jill (Keri Russell). These are most of the major characters and you can understand what is going on between them but their development is too shallow and their motivation is unclear. Some of the supporting roles were too obvious to mistake, though. Such as Violet Nottingham played by Teresa Palmer. She is the spoiled, self-proclaimed celebrity daughter of the rich hotel owner Barry Nottingham (Richard Griffiths). Hmmm, sounds familiar doesn’t it? Guy Pearce plays Kendall, the selfish hotel executive with a hidden agenda that benefits only himself. Can I tell you that I didn’t even recognize Lucy Lawless as Aspen who works at the front desk of the hotel and is Kendall’s accomplice. Russell Brand delivers another goofy, light-hearted role as Mickey, hotel employee and friend to Skeeter. All in all, everybody gave a decent performance but those main characters where hard to connect with. Luckily, the story wasn’t.
Given the nature of the story, you would have to expect the visual effects to keep up and they did. Not the best stuff ever but good enough for this production. You are taken to the Wild West with cowboys, Indians, and fast horses, a Roman coliseum for some chariot tricks, medieval times with knights in shining armor, and to the future on board a space station. The sky is not the limit when it comes to the imagination used in this picture. Even when it comes back to reality in the end, the climax of the film is really quite exciting and brings the whole thing together in Disney style. Director Adam Shankman has directed some good projects this decade; Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, and Hairspray to name a few. This is not his best work but it can definitely be included in this list. If you plan to take the kids to see a movie this Christmas, this is your best bet and you’ll enjoy it too.
Wishing you all very Happy Holidays, Merry CHRISTmas and a great New Year!
Review By Cine Marcos