Monday, March 4 2013, 10:52 AM MST
Movie Review: Jack the Giant Slayer
Jack the Giant Slayer
3 out of 5 Stars
Director • Bryan Singer
Starring • Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor
Rated • PG-13
Recommended to • Those looking for a fun, adventurous and somewhat silly take on the classic fairytale of “Jack and the Beanstalk.”
Jack (Nicholas Hoult) is a well-meaning orphan who lives with his uncle on his struggling farm. Threatened with starvation Jack goes into the city to sell his uncle’s horse, but only comes back with a bag of beans; magic beans that grow into a giant ladder to an island in the sky where a race of violent giants dwell.
These days fairytales have move from the realm of family films and into the land of action adventures intended for older audiences. In the past year we’ve had “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” and now there’s “Jack the Giant Slayer.” “Jack the Giant Slayer” isn’t as dark as its classmates as it mixes epic adventure with a bit of silliness thrown in for comedic purposes. The sugary visuals are the drawing point; the script plays a distant second fiddle. The cast is a delightful mix of veterans and up-and-comers. The old guard could probably play their roles in their sleep; fortunately they appear to be engaged and awake as they breathe a little life and depth into what are essentially cardboard characters.
“Jack the Giant Slayer” is better than what you’d expect from a movie opening in early March. It’s luster will fade a bit once the onslaught of summer blockbusters arrives, but for now it’s a delightful way to escape the outside world.
-Ryan Michael Painter
3 out of 5 Stars
Director • Bryan Singer
Starring • Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor
Rated • PG-13
Recommended to • Those looking for a fun, adventurous and somewhat silly take on the classic fairytale of “Jack and the Beanstalk.”
Jack (Nicholas Hoult) is a well-meaning orphan who lives with his uncle on his struggling farm. Threatened with starvation Jack goes into the city to sell his uncle’s horse, but only comes back with a bag of beans; magic beans that grow into a giant ladder to an island in the sky where a race of violent giants dwell.
These days fairytales have move from the realm of family films and into the land of action adventures intended for older audiences. In the past year we’ve had “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” and now there’s “Jack the Giant Slayer.” “Jack the Giant Slayer” isn’t as dark as its classmates as it mixes epic adventure with a bit of silliness thrown in for comedic purposes. The sugary visuals are the drawing point; the script plays a distant second fiddle. The cast is a delightful mix of veterans and up-and-comers. The old guard could probably play their roles in their sleep; fortunately they appear to be engaged and awake as they breathe a little life and depth into what are essentially cardboard characters.
“Jack the Giant Slayer” is better than what you’d expect from a movie opening in early March. It’s luster will fade a bit once the onslaught of summer blockbusters arrives, but for now it’s a delightful way to escape the outside world.
-Ryan Michael Painter
