JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND

US, 2012, 94 minutes, Colour.
Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Luis Guzman, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Davis.
Directed by Brad Peyton.

Did we see Journey 1? Yes, we did. In fact the first journey was to the centre of the earth (with Brendan Fraser). Young Sean (Josh Hutcherson) had gone with his uncle (Fraser) on a 3D expedition adapted from Jules Verne’s novel. Here is Sean again, more devoted than ever to Verne as well as to his scalawag explorer grandfather who sends him a coded message that indicates he has found Verne’s Mysterious Island (in fact, this was Verne’s sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) and wants Sean to come. So, this is the journey 2 the island! It is in the Pacific, off Palau.

The trouble is that Sean now has a stepfather whom he resents (‘legal guardian’), Hank, an ex Navy man, played by Dwayne Johnson, tough but also sending his image up (and singing ‘It’s a Wonderful World’). Hank tries to bond with Sean and off they go. They hire an old helicopter piloted by Luis Guzman doing the funny schtick, Sean insisting because he has seen the teenage daughter, Vanessa Hudgins, no shy violet whose ambition is to go to college.

This is rather old-fashioned film-making and storytelling, not unlike those 1970s adventures, with exotic locations and frightening creatures, like Valley of the Gwangi or People that Time Forgot. It was produced by Walden Studios, that family friendly company who like moral stories like their Bridge to Terabithia or the Narnia films. Nothing to offend any family audience here.

After an attack by giant birds, they are rescued by Grandpa. He is played by Michael Caine in yo-ho-ho frame of mind, all grins and enjoying himself as he comes up to age 80. And, sounding just like Michael Caine has for almost fifty years.

The rest is adventures on the island, some menacing insects, everyone riding through the air on giant bumble bees – and then the discovery that this is really Atlantis and that it is sinking fast. Will they be able to get to the underwater cave to re-start Captain Nemo’s Nautilus and escape? You might like to guess!

Filmed in 3D, it has its exciting moments. But, basically, this is a wholesome adventure story, family values and bonding, a cheerful show where there are dangers but not for too long and some ready solutions to the problems that keep cropping up. Undemandingly entertaining for family audiences.

1. A family adventure? Old-fashioned in style, action, fantasy? Simple, crises – not too difficult to cope with?

2. The popularity of Jules Verne, his imagination? The range of adventures? Grandfather and the voice-over, the Vernians and their knowledge of Verne’s books? Drawing on them for the adventure and for survival?

3. Ordinary US, homes, the bike ride, the crash? The ending back home – school, college, birthdays and family?

4. Hawaii standing in for Palau, for the island, the tropical beauty, ruggedness? The musical score?

5. The creatures, the pursuit? The giant bears and the ride? Spiders and insects? The special effects, the sets, artificial and real? Action and stunt work? The Nautilus?

6. The title, the Andersons, the uncle and his adventure to the centre of the earth, Sean and his presence, his being contacted by his grandfather?

7. Sean, the ride, the intrusion? His being caught, the police, Hank as his legal guardian rather than stepfather? Resentful? His mother, trying to cope? Hank at home, Sean in his room, the code, Hank talking with him, the decoding, the situation – and wanting to go to the island?

8. Arriving in Palau, Sean condescending, talking with the broken English, his offer for the helicopter, people refusing? Gabato and his offer? Kailani and the attraction for Sean? Their going in the helicopter, the ride?

9. The crash, the island, the puzzle, the creatures and the chase, the logs and their destruction?

10. Grandfather, the invitation, the plan, wanting Sean on (**or is it ‘and’? Not clear) the island, working the logs, saving them from the birds?

11. Sean, his age, his angers, rebellious, his cause with his grandfather? The code, the attraction to Kailani? Dealing with Hank, relying on him, the bond? Change of attitude? His awkwardness with Kailani, Hank’s advice about the pecks, the kiss – and that helping? Sean changing?

12. Dwayne Johnson as Hank, sending himself up, the navy background, codes? The bonding, going to Palau, his skills, singing It’s a Wonderful World? Sean and Hank and the Nautilus, diving, getting the engine going, the electric eel and the generator?

13. Michael Caine as Alexander, his adventures, being away from home, his house and all his inventions, calling Hank Henry? Changing his attitude? Glad to see Sean? Sean and his injury, Hank singing the song? Alexander and his skills? Helping Kailani, her father wanting to get the gold for his daughter, their taking him back?

14. Kailani, her age, tough, with her dad, wanting to go to college, her attitudes towards Sean, stand-off, encouraging him? Her love for her father?

15. Gabato, the jokes, the comedy, wanting the gold, for Kailani and college? The end and his being an entrepreneur?

16. The birds, the bees, the spiders, the Nautilus?

17. The happy ending – and Alexander turning up with another gift – the journey to the moon?

18. The success of the adapting of Verne? Combining Mysterious Island, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea?

19. Combining Verne with the myth of Atlantis, Atlantis sinking, rapidly?

20. A satisfying film for all the family – no objections?