Studio:  Columbia Pictures
Director: Rob Letterman
Writers: Darren Lemke, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, R L Stine
Starring: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Ryan Lee, Amy Ryan, Jillian Bell
Music: Danny Elfman
Release Date: OUT NOW!

It’s the jaded eye that can not help but notice a certain listing, a discernible tick-box approach to the construction and production of Goosebumps. Teen hero with dead dad issues, mysterious girl next door, the doomed but not so doomed love which blossoms between the two of them, the girl’s angry and equally mysterious father, the dorky friend with girlfriend issues, the whole ‘what’s going on the house next door routine’. All these over familiar motifs, piled one on top of the other in Goosebumps with seemingly no great care or consideration, except to propel the Goosebumps from A to B.
Except.

It works.

Either by design or serendipity, Goosebumps succeeds in dispelling the jaded movie goer in all, particularly those of us over a certain age – I’m 21 myself, or at least in my dreams – and whilst a vast experience of cinema and its techniques may well weaponize many of us against a movie like this, Goosebumps, if anything, reminds this reviewer of the folly of that approach; which, in a word, is the debilitating world of cynicism; I’ve not been there myself but the brochure doesn’t look nice.

One of Goosebumps assets has to be the restrained and downplayed acting of Jack Black. Instead of the usual Jack Black hyperactive, motormouth, over-the-top, balls to the wall, in your face acting, Black opts for something else, something that looks like, well character acting. The fact Goosebumps author, R L Stine is a presence – including a cameo in the movie – Black and Stine swap school corridor acknowledgements of each other – may have inclined Jack Black to tone it down and be not just less annoying but more likable too. Whatever it is, it works, and Goosebumps is all the better for this approach.

Consequently, the rest of the cast, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Ryan Lee, Amy Ryan, Jillian Bell, have room to breathe and fret and strut their stuff upon the sound-stage with a semblance of believability and a genuine desire to make Goosebumps both watchable and enjoyable.

The Stephen King jokes just add to the fun, scares and pleasure in Goosebumps.

Dispel the jaded mentality, buy a ticket or five and let Goosebumps remind you sometimes we put our own barriers up to enjoyment.

Time to stop that then.

Now!

 

Reviewer: Steve Hooker