Masand: 'Journey 2...' is basic and predictable

Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson and Michael Caine

Director: Brad Peyton

As kiddie-friendly family films go, 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island' is a harmless, breezy adventure that offers likeable characters and some exciting 3D set-pieces. Just don't go in expecting more.

As kiddie-friendly family films go, \'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island\' is a harmless, breezy adventure.

Sequel to the 2008 hit 'Journey To The Centre of The Earth', the new film opens with our hero, the same teenage science-nut Sean (Josh Hutcherson), teaming up with his step-dad Hank (Dwayne Johnson) to decipher a message sent by the kid's missing grandfather. When the code hints at the existence of the unchartered island that inspired literary classics 'Treasure Island', 'Gulliver's Travels', and 'The Mysterious Island', Sean and Hank set off to the South Pacific, joined along the way by a zany helicopter pilot (Luiz Guzman) and his pretty daughter (Vanessa Hudgens).

The island itself is something out of a Universal Studios theme-park ride with exotic reptiles popping out of nowhere so the actors have a reason to run around the place pretending to look scared. A little more disturbing than the angry creatures in this film is the sight of Michael Caine turning up as Sean's feisty grandpa – at one point, the celebrated British actor even takes a ride on a giant bumblebee!

If watching Dwayne Johnson and Michael Caine spar it out verbally is your idea of fun, there’s plenty of that in this inoffensive but formulaic film, that doesn’t even give our protagonists a worthy nemesis to defeat. All they need to do is get off the island in time before a flood threatens to submerge it completely. Ho hum!

I'm going with two out of five for 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island'. It's basic and predictable, but the CGI-enhanced chase sequences might appeal to the young boy in you!

Rating: 2 / 5

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