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Space for the kids
ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE
Directed by John Favreau
Certificate 15
THIS is a family space fantasy with a real difference. Actually,
it has several major differences from your typical kiddie fare.
Zathura’s story about two bickering siblings – Danny
(Jonah Bobo, pictured, soon to appear in Strangers With Candy)
and Walter (Josh Hutcherson) – who get shot into space
in their own home is not only original, it lends the setting
for more adventures than merely, say, being shot into space
in the ordinary way.
After being left in the care of their teenage sister (Kristen
Stewart) while dad (Tim Robbins) goes to work, the two boys
discover an old space board game with magical powers.
Like its predecessor film Jumanji, where every dice toss brings
jungle danger, in Zathura, every turn brings new space-related
challenges – and none funnier than the first when the boys
are hailed with a flaming meteor shower right in their sitting
room, which is very impressively blown to smithereens.
With extremely high production values which make the impossible
idea of a house moving through outer space look actually quite
fun, Zathura is a deceptively innovative, entertaining and thoughtful
film for the entire family. Snappy and amusing, with enough
excitement (although perhaps a little too much for very young
viewers) for a range of ages, this is the film that proves the
rule that there is such a thing as good family entertainment. |
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