Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

"Told you it'd work."

"You were right. I can't believe we made it."

"It's Jules Verne, man. You gotta believe."

After intercepting a coded signal, Sean Anderson (Hutcherson) breaks into a research center to boost the signal, until he is caught by the police.  His stepfather, Hank Parsons (Johnson), helps Sean break the code, which leads to 3 classic books about islands: Jules Verne's "The Mysterious Island", Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island", and "Gulliver's Travels."  The books combined give the locations to the island.  Hank is skeptical but agrees to take Sean to Palau to find the island.  They convince helicopter tour guide Gabato (Guzman) and his daughter Kailani (Hudgens) to help them find the island.

They helicopter is sucked into a storm and crashes onto the island.  The begin exploring and find that the books were based on fact.  Elephants and similar animals are tiny, and insects and typically small animals are gigantic.  They are chased by a giant lizards, but are rescued by Sean's adventurer grandfather, Alexander (Caine), who sent the coded messages.  But the island is slowly sinking into the ocean and they cannot call for help.  Can they find a way off the island before it sinks to the bottom of the ocean?


In 2008, Walden Media decided to turn Jules Verne's book "Journey to the Center of the Earth" into a 3D family friendly film.  The film was successful enough that Walden Media decided to make a sequel.  Once again the story is based in classic literature, pulling heavily from Verne, and bringing in "Treasure Island" and "Gulliver's Travels".  I have to admit, I have never read anything by Verne (I know, I know, I'm a terrible English major / literature fan)... but I now own several of his works.

Brendan Fraser, who starred in the original film, was unable to appear in the film due to scheduling issues.  He was replaced by Dwayne Johnson as Sean's step father.  Johnson is decent, but I miss Fraser's character.  Josh Hutcherson, as Sean, is the only actor to return to the franchise.  Once again he is fine in the role, and carries the franchise.  Hutcherson is a popular actor and one of the stars of the Hunger Games franchise.  Kristin Davis is wasted in the small role as Sean's mom... the character isn't entirely necessary in the series.  Without Fraser, it was necessary to add another Anderson adventurer to the film.  Michael Caine was a good choice for the role and is entertaining as Alexander.  Luis Guzman is comic relief as Gabato.  Vanessa Hudgens is ok as Kailani, but doesn't get to do much.

The story is interesting and works well.  Like the first film, there are many apparent 3D moments where random things are launched at the screen to maximize the 3D.

An entertaining, family film that will hopefully spark some interest in the literature that inspires it.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) 94 minutes
Director: Brad Peyton
Starring: Dwayne Johnson as Hank Parsons
Josh Hutcherson as Sean Anderson
Michael Caine as Alexander Anderson
Luis Guzman as Gabato
Vanessa Hudgens as Kailani