Buy posters from this movie

Danny (Jonah Bobo), who is “six-and-three-quarters,” just wants to play with his ten-year-old brother, Walter (Josh Hutcherson), instead of being constantly shunned by him. When Dad (Tim Robbins) leaves them in the care of their older sister (Kristen Stewart), a fight results in Danny finding the titular game stashed in the basement. Danny’s first move results in a living-room meteor shower and the house’s relocation to outer space. This could mean one of two things: either there are too many household chemicals around, or the game has come to life and they must finish it to get back home. Once more, siblings tackle the mystical board game, but instead of the jungle trouble of Jumanji, they face intergalactic obstacles, from their sister’s stint in cryogenic sleep to a defective robot to a run-in with Zorgons, lizard-like carnivores with a penchant for pyromania. Perhaps the change in venue is what helps up the ante this time around. Instead of scenes of convenient community chaos, Zathura is restricted solely to the household, never too small to hide in, but never big enough to entirely eliminate vulnerability from whatever the game throws their way. No matter what, Milton Bradley better prepare for legal action.

As with Jumanji a decade ago and The Polar Express last year, Zathura is yet another film adaptation of a work by acclaimed children’s author Chris Van Allsburg, and it is arguably the best one yet. As partially predictable as it is, mainly the sibling arc, the story is always on the move, never bogged down by boredom or heavy-handed lessons. The lack of sentimental sap keeps the film going at a decent clip, sometimes taking a breather, but never taking a break. Even more refreshing is the slight subversive streak that tends to come with the humor. Director Jon Favreau took Christmas clichés and managed to craft an unexpectedly appealing charmer out of 2003’s Elf, and he keeps up the streak by infusing Zathura with a genuine sense of adventure and peril that other family films lack.

Screenwriters David Koepp and John Kamps not only avoid labored songs, cheap innuendo, and disposable pop-culture references (save for one great remark about Thirteen), but they give the dynamic between family members a much more sincere texture. One aspect of particular note is the language that manages to slip into a PG-rated film. Within five minutes, Danny calls his brother a ‘dick’ (which Dad quickly discourages), and truth be told, any movie with the line “Get me a juice box, beeyotch!” earns a special place in my heart. For the most part, the dialogue is what will make this film above tolerable for parents accompanying their kids to a weekend matinee.

Jonah Bobo and Josh Hutcherson come across as convincing brothers, even though I still cannot figure out why Bobo’s raspy whine isn’t nearly as ear-shredding than it seems. Tim Robbins makes the most of his brief appearance, and Kristen Stewart has come farther since her role in 2002’s Panic Room. (It’s such a shame she’s only fifteen.) In fact, the potent performances of Stewart and Dax Shepard, who portrays a stranded astronaut who arrives to help the boys, help give a certain third-act revelation more impact, both comedic and dramatic.

While the acting and script are strong, a film like Zathura wouldn’t be much without special effects, and they are plenty to go around. The frequent computer-assisted shots are quite seamless, and occasionally, Favreau opts for practical effects concerning stuff like the Zorgons with terrific aplomb. The Zorgon spaceship, the malfunctioning robot, and the design of the game itself convey a decidedly retro look. Forget Chicken Little in 3-D; this movie is practically begging for the effect.

After three viewings, this movie is straddling my personal like it/love it zone, where other films that have won me over reside, such as the recent 'Dawn of the Dead' remake. Why? Because this film is as good as it possibly could have been, plain and simple. By no means do I expect everyone else’s opinion to mirror my enthusiasm, but I stand by how much sheer enjoyment I got out of it. While it may not be the year’s biggest surprise, 'Zathura' is certainly the most pleasant one.

link directly to this review at https://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=13483&reviewer=409
originally posted: 11/12/05 18:08:57
 printer-friendly format