Goosebumps (2015)
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Horror
Directed By: Rob Letterman
The film takes place in a fictionalized version of our own reality, one where R.L Stine (Jack Black) and his books exist and it appears our main character Zach (Dylan Minnette) has just moved in next door to him. He doesn't know this right away though and it isn't until he and his new friend Champ (Ryan Lee) decide to break into the man's house to check on his daughter Hannah (Odeya Rush) that they realize who he really is. While in his house the two stumble upon a shelf of old Goosebumps manuscripts, all locked like they are keeping something inside. When they open one of the books they realize they had been locked shut for a reason it isn't long before their entire town is being terrorized by the many creatures of the Goosebumps series. Now the three must work with Mr. Stine himself to find a way to get all of these monsters back where they belong, penned in ink and bound by the pages of a book.
The decision to bring Stine's world into our own is something that could have easily backfired, taking not just one but an entire line-up of beloved characters and meshing them together in one story was an enormous risk. Rather than kill the film though this actually elevates it to something much greater and ultimately the perfect fan pleaser. The wonderful creations of R.L. Stine that so many of us have been waiting so long to see on screen are all brought together in a single 100 minute feature that is sure to make even the most hardcore of fans smile and laugh uncontrollably.
Using beautiful CGI they bring to life all of the most iconic of the Goosebumps monsters, from Slappy to the Werewolf of Fever Swamp you will see at least of glimpse of all of your favorite creatures. These aren't just your average monsters either, each one embodies everything that was given to them in their books to make them full blown characters. They are funny, clever, and super creepy making this a full blown genre film for audiences of all ages that is sure to satisfy all existing fans of the franchise and hopefully create a whole new audience for the them as well.
Existing in a world of CG monsters the casting of the roles was key, especially R.L. Stine and thankfully Jack Black is as good as he has ever been as the famous children's author. His performance is the backbone of the movie and he crushes it, bringing hysterical laughs and a level of emotion that builds up the film to be more than just a fun monster movie. He is the name that brings people into the theater and anyone looking for some classic Jack is going to be pleasantly surprised. That being said, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, and Ryan Lee are all wonderful in their roles with Lee pulling some of the film's biggest laughs and one-liners.
To cap it all off, Danny Elfman (The Nightmare Before Christmas) delivers another incredible score that adds that much more to the film. His iconic sound is perfect for this and his original music is the final touch in making this an instant holiday tentpole. We only get so many "all ages" genre films in a lifetime and this is as good a one as you will ever see. The cast is wonderfully funny, the story is intelligent and clever, and above all else the monsters are simply awesome. Grab the family and go see Goosebumps this weekend and let's show them that we want more from this potential franchise.
As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!
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