Review of Around the World in 80 Days (2004) by Jean-Francois V — 06 Jun 2008
Set in a fantasy version of our own world, somewhere between 1899 (when the Eiffel Tower was completed) and 1901 (when Queen Victoria died), this film could almost be called "Around Disneyworld in 80 days" (it is *that* historical.) Merely using the Jules Verne novel as a commercial ploy to ensure public recognition, it throws in everything and the kitchen sink, from Jackie Chan to the Wright brothers (played by real life brothers Owen and Luke Wilson, though the elder Wilson plays the younger Wright and vice versa - I checked), Wong Fei Hong, the statue of Liberty, Lord Kelvin, Queen Victoria, Toulouse Lautrec, the Taj Mahal and Vincent Van Gogh.
A mixture of slapstick, low key martial arts, romantic comedy and pure escapist fun, it succeeds as a family movie, though the humour is not always the most refined.
Cecile de France shows some comic potential, Steve Coogan would make a great Sherlock Holmes, and I was pleased to see Jim Broadbent and old Jackie Chan pal Sammo Hung again.
This review of Around the World in 80 Days (2004) was written by Jean-Francois V on 06 Jun 2008.
Around the World in 80 Days has generally received mixed reviews.
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