Rated PG
Directed by Frank Coraci (The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer)
Starring Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan
Yawn.
Ever see a preview, and then you see the film and realize . . . the preview was better?
I’m not saying that Around the World in 80 Days is bad. But there are different ways to ask if a film is worth it. There are different levels:
- Is this film worth paying $8 at the theatre? Nope.
- Is this film worth matinee price? Nope
- Is this film worth renting? . . . maybe . . . if everything else is already checked out and the popcorn is already popping at home.
- Is this film worth seeing if your friend invites you over and he’s Bar-BQing filets to be eaten on TV trays in front of his big screen? Yes!
The film is a new version of the classic with Jackie Chan playing Passepartout, and Steve Coogan as the lead Phileas Fogg. This alone is a little weird . . . it would be like making the Lone Ranger starring Tommy Lee Jones as Tonto and the Lone Ranger played by . . . Mark Ruffalo. I’m not slamming Mark Ruffalo . . . but do you know who he is? Well most people don’t know who Steve Coogan is either. Your big money actor is in the supporting role.
Is that bad? Not really. Some would even say it worked. Pheleas and Passepartout try to make it around the world in eighty days, facing opposition at every turn. Personally, I think the only thing that saved the film was the cameos from Arnold (our great California governor), the Wilson brothers, and a few others.
Who knows- you might even like the film. But be sure to check your brain at the door.
Should kids see it?
No. It’s got enough innuendos in it to keep you fielding questions from the youngins for days. Should teenagers see it? It’s not as trashy as the typical garbage we see these days. I mean . . . it made a PG rating. That says a lot in this PG-13 day and age. But make your own judgment by checking out screenit.com's web site (CLICK HERE).
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
