​FILMS

goosebumps

If you are a fan of the books, you might get goosebumps seeing 'Goosebumps'.

2015 review number 192:

Goosebumps: (Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy): 76 out of 100: Over the years there have been numerous movies adapted from children's books. Some of them have been hugely successful while others should have not been made at all. Goosebumps should appeal to its fan base because many of the characters created by R.L. Stine are brilliantly brought to life in this entertaining popcorn flick. Even if you haven't heard of this popular series of books, the enjoyment factor is high due to the fun and escapism of the story.

 

Zach and his mother Gale (Amy Ryan) have moved from New York to Madison, Delaware for a fresh start. Zach's father has recently died and Gale has been appointed vice principal at the local high school. When they move in to their new house, Zach (Dylan Minnette) discovers a creepy neighbour living next door. R.L. Stine (Jack Black) shields his daughter Hannah (Odeya Rush) from the outside world and forbids her from seeing Zach. Champ (Ryan Lee) befriends Zach and they sneak into Stine's home when all hell breaks loose and monsters and creatures are released from the pages of his books. It's up to Stine, Hannah, Zach and Champ to help save the town from destruction.

 

There's a lot of laughs to be had from the situations the characters encounter. Ryan Lee proves to be a sidekick with the funniest lines and although he is initially annoying, provides most of the nervous tension that the characters are experiencing. His reactions to the monsters are hilarious. Jillian Bell as Aunt Lorraine is also funny, especially with her attempts to find herself a new man. Black is always wonderful to watch and he also provides the voices of Invisible Boy and Slappy, the ventriloquist dummy who is the leader of the villains. Minette and Rush are convincing as the hero and heroine and their appeal makes the viewer hope that they develop a loving relationship.

 

The first half an hour of the film lays the groundwork where we are introduced to all the main characters. It's not until after this mark when the fun and adventure begins. Some of the pacing is frenetic but for this viewer, this adds to the enjoyment of seeing all the monsters come to life. It was also an ingenuous idea to incorporate the author of the books in the movie itself. A lot of the in-jokes come from the situations R.L. Stine finds himself in.

 

Danny Elfman provides the music score and he rarely composes inferior music. He knows how to set the tempo and create a suitable mood for the scenes, especially when the book characters come to life. These characters are mainly created by CGI but they don't overwhelm the plot as they are integral to how the scenes play out. Younger viewers might be scared by the actions of some of these characters which demonstrates how well they have been created.

 

Goosebumps is a lot of fun for those who have a sense of adventure and enjoy seeing their fantasies come true. This is certainly one case where the movie adaptation of a popular book series doesn't disappoint its fans while those who haven't read the books might be interested do so after seeing the movie.

 

Starring Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Ryan Lee and Amy Ryan

(103 mins)

Parental advice: Violence

Additional scene during or after credits: Yes, during the credits there is animation of the characters and their surroundings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMJ-zaoq8y8 (Movie trailer)

 

(Reviewed on Wednesday 30th December, 2015)

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