Pack your bags, as Jackie Chan and Disney try again at a hit, with a re-make of the classic Jules Verne novel/movie Around the World in 80 Days. If you do not know the story, the title will tell you the enough. As the unusual professor Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan), bets his career that he can circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. Here’s the catch it’s the turn of the century and this feat has never been done before. Passepartout (Jackie Chan) enlists as Professor Fogg’s bumbling Valet who is on a mission all his own. Will they make it, does anyone really wonder?
The real question is, with all of this movie’s problems, where do I begin? For those that don’t know, Jules Verne was a visionary author whose ideas were ahead of his time, by the way his time was the 1870’s. In the 1950’s the novel was made into a great Oscar winning movie, and it should have ended there.
Trying to recreate the excitement and adventure of circumnavigating the globe pre-airline travel, requires a brilliant set up. Kids today watching this movie could travel the world in one day much less 80, and this movie does a terrible job of trying to present the idea that back at the turn of the century traveling was DIFFICULT!
So, instead of relying on a strong set up for this story, the movie tries to rely on its star power, Jackie Chan. This is Hollywood/Disney at its worst, a mismatched re-make of a great movie and story that is light on acting and direction, and heavy on cliches and “likeable” star power.
You can just imagine the executives at the studio planning this one, “Let’s see, what can we put Jackie Chan in? I know, how about an action-adventure re-make of a turn of the century sci-fi movie?” Never mind the facts, lets just pump it out, kids will drag their parents to see it. Unfortunately, neither of them will enjoy it.
The one thing this movie has going for it are some surprising cameos by Hollywood A-listers, Luke and Owen Wilson, and even an appearance by the Governator. Arnold is entertaining as a philandering Turkish prince, but even he can not help this ill-fated trip.
This movie lacks of all the things that made the original great, futuristic story line, great acting and compelling movie making. This movie stinks, it is a dumbed down version of a classic that will probably be another Jackie Chan BOMB!
