Viewed almost all the way through...
I've seen one or two film versions of the classic tale "Gulliver's Travels"; I've read an abridged version and nonabridged version; I think I may have even seen a TV show on it once. Let me precede this review by first warning you of three things:
One, I do not like the story "Gulliver's Travels."
Two, I have not enjoyed Jack Black's recent movies, with the exception of Kung Fu Panda.
Three, I think that Jack Black's fat belly, raucous remixes of 70's/80's pop songs, and naked butt jokes are REALLY getting old.
So, allow me to present my humble (and tempered) opinion of Black's latest "family" film...It stinks like so many pairs of sweaty Converse. It has very little originality and delves into the ridiculous comedy style of Black repeatedly. Sure, ol' Jack's comedy was fresh, original, and hysterically funny back in the days of Nacho Libre, School of Rock, and Kung Fu Panda. But now, years later, he's not all that funny anymore--just outrageously annoying. He seems to choose film roles that are rejected by other actors. I don't know why he's doing what he's doing, but it's definitely not silver-screen worthy. I could understand it if this film was released in a straight-to-DVD campaign; but the theatrical, 3D heavy release is just bloating up the theaters and giving us theater employees a massive headache.
I will say this for it: It is mostly clean, with the exception of Gulliver peeing on a fire to put it out (which does happen in the original story). It is bright and colorful, and it actually has a pretty interesting premise. Gulliver is just a normal Joe Schmoe who works in the mail room of a travel magazine. He gets a lucky break via plagiarism and is given an assignment: Investigate the Bermuda Triangle. He finds that there's a mystical portal to a parallel universe, where everything is itsy bisty teeny tiny on the island of Lilliput. Suddenly, for the first time in Gulliver's life, he has the chance to be anyone he wants, say anything he wants to say. He can be a valiant hero whose life backstory looks strangely like some blockbuster films in our world. The Lilliputians finally have someone they can look up to, and they hail Gulliver as a savior from their cranky neighboring kingdom who always attacks Lilliput and kidnaps the princess. Obviously, the military general of Lilliput feels like he is overshadowed by Gulliver (literally and figuratively) and he gets super jealous. Meanwhile, the princess has her eye on a peasant man who has loved her from afar for years, but they're unable to court because she is royalty and he is not. So you can see how the premise is interesting enough, right?
Somewhere in the first fifteen minutes, the movie completely jumps off track and feels like a rushing train wreck for the remainder of the movie. (I actually saw the first twenty minutes one day, the last half hour another day, and the middle half hour on yet another day, so I did not see it completely in one sitting. I don't think I could have sat through it.) But, as I said before, it's loud, bright, colorful, silly, goofy, and in 3D--so it's good for kids who just want to have fun watching a movie, but Mom and Dad might have a problem staying awake.
NEGATIVES:
>>Profanity: Plugged In counts six uses of a nasty word for "backside," as well as once of "a**" and a few flippant uses of God's name (such as in the old rock song, "War, HUH! What is it good for, absolutely nothing, good God, yall!" You know the song and I'd bet a dollar you're now singing it in your head).
>>Violence: Almost all of this "violence" is slapstick, "pratfall" type violence. Characters get kicked in the crotch, fall from great heights, slam against stuff, a couple of "full-suspension" wedgies are given, Gulliver pees on a fire (and everyone around), and Gulliver gets treated like a child's rag doll in a scene where he finds himself on the opposite end of the size spectrum. Plugged In comments that it feels like the filmmakers are shoving it in our faces, yelling, "THIS IS FUNNY! LAUGH!" and it's really not that funny at all.
>>Spiritual Content: None.
>>Alcohol and Drugs: At the royal banquet table, the royal family drinks wine/champagne.
>>Sexual Content: In keeping with the silliness of the movie, all the sexual content is made up of a few cleavage-baring dresses and one or two awkward comments made about the Princess' body parts. It's mostly innocent because it's so brainless.
For those families looking for an electronic babysitter to just keep their kids occupied, this movie fills the order. It's loud and written on the level of a four-year-old. It's giggly and wandering, not to mention it falls flat on its face. If you want quality entertainment, please look elsewhere. Your family and your wallet will thank you. There is much, much better entertainment to be had from the likes of Disney and Dreamworks.
1/2 out of 6 stars
So that everyone (including myself) may benefit from it, please feel free to leave your own personal opinion of this film.
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