In 2010 Disney’s Alice and Wonderland did so well at 1 billion dollars worldwide, that Hollywood decided it’s time to tap into the fairytale genre and make them larger than life. Suddenly Snow White and the Hunstman followed, doing really well, and then Julia Robert’s Mirror Mirror and Hansel and Gretel tanked.
In Jack, we open with an enchanted family-like feel with a sweep reminiscent of Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood. Then once the story ends up the beanstalk, it turns into a nightmare-inducing Gerard Butler in 300! C’mon Hollywood, do we really need all those nasty/scary-looking giants to frighten small kids? (note: in the test audience I attended, the children were laughing with delight and then became frozen-quiet and petrified once the nasty giants appeared.)
The tender tale opens on a young boy being read a bedtime story by his father. The boy’s final question “Father, how do you know that
giants aren’t real?” Fast-forward ten years later and the young boy grows up to be Jack (Nicholas Hoult) a dilatant teen who’s distracted easily. And then there’s Princess Isabella (Eleanor Tomlinson) with the same wandering problem. Suddenly both Jack and Isabella are convincing their parents they can be responsible adults if given the chance.
Of course in the case of Isabella it’s a bit more serious as she’s to rule the kingdom after her father, the King (Ian McShane) has plans to
marry her off to old Roderick (Stanley Tucci). Roderick, however, has his own kingdom agenda.
But when a Monk gives a sack of beans to Jack, he warns him to get them to the Abbey and never allow them to get wet. Of course one of the beans get wet and alas, Jack and the Beanstalk. It was a near perfect family film until now. Then Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell a really scary film frightening children to family therapy!
Emont (Ewan McGregor) plays one of the knights and I couldn’t help but side with the Giant who wanted to make a pigs-in-blanket
sandwich out of him. Nothing like an edible Englishman! Even tough Ewan’s Scotish, but close enough. And for Ewan in tights I give the film 2 tiaras