Brendon Fraser is out and (surprise) Dwayne Johnson is in. Still, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island differs little from the original as Johnson pairs with Hutcherson on a book-themed adventure that has them running for their lives.
As I sat there, witnessing this near-repeat spectacle, I couldn't help but garner a strong feeling of déjà vu. At first I assumed it had something to do with Johnson working his kid-friendly persona to steal another hit, but then I realized: this is literally the same story as The Journey to the Center of the Earth, only a few different actors and a new location. Think The Hangover: Part II, only this time the story is meant to be family-friendly.
For what it is, Journey 2 is a decent film that caters to the very young. The sea-bound adventure features a few interesting scenes (most notably those involving a lizard and her eggs), but mostly falls short as it works hard to steer clear of any and all grown-up material. I'm not saying that the film was "soft", but it's rated PG for a reason.
Luis Guzman has the unfortunate task at delivering some truly embarrassing jokes, and Vanessa Hudgens' turn as his daughter comes across a bit odd as she constantly speaks of her longing to attend college. The romance in the film is overly pushed, and our two young leads bear little chemistry. (But then again, Hutcherson will forever be known as Peeta to me, so the mere thought of him cheating on Katniss puts a harsh sour taste in my mouth.)
The disc's bonus features aren't too impressive, as a gag reel, a deleted scenes feature, and an interactive map leave you with a sense of unfulfillment. The cast is surprisingly strong, but then again, family films tend to bring out the A-listers in masses. Still, even with all their support, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is nothing more than a generic family adventure. Sadly, that is probably enough to entertain its target market.
