A follow-up of sorts to 1995's Jumanji, Zathura: A Space Adventure is based on another Chris Van Allsburg book about children playing games that magically become real, and a bit dangerous. It's all basically in good fun, though, and the virtual realities never get too threatening or too complicated, so maybe we should just think of these movies as a kinder, gentler Matrix, minus the philosophy and the body count.
The setting this time is outer space, as opposed to the jungle animal theme of Jumanji, and the heroes are two young brothers who suddenly find themselves besieged by rampaging robots, deadly meteor showers and evil, reptilian aliens. Zathura is much more focused and a better made movie than Jumanji, but it may also be more problematic for a goodly portion of the film's primary target audience of young boys. Director Jon Favreau, who's had quite a strange journey from Swingers to Elf to this, gives us an exhilarating, straight-up action adventure, albeit one with moments of intensity that may be a bit much for viewers under the age of, say, seven. (A handful of the movie's best scenes, for instance, take place in a creepy basement/boiler room where Freddy Krueger would feel right at home.)
For viewers old enough to deal with it, though, the movie is mostly very good, uncomplicated fun. Favreau handles the action scenes with just the right blend of sophistication and charm, and the film's brief opening section captures the dynamic between two squabbling siblings and a single dad with affection and accuracy. In the end, life lessons are learned, cherished material possessions destroyed and bonding takes place all around, but the movie handles even its most formulaic bits in high style. Stars Josh Hutcherson, Jonah Bobo, Dax Hucherson and Tim Robbins.
This article appears in Nov 9-15, 2005.