Review of Goosebumps (2015) by Danika M — 30 Jul 2018

A cute take on R.L. Stine's children's horror classics.

I thought that adapting R.L. Stine's old children's books to the big screen would make for an awkward and dated slog. But, I must admit, Goosebumps (2015) is pretty fun. Director Rob Letterman brings these horror monsters to life with fairly decent CGI, natural humor, and tight direction. I think Goosebumps benefits from its short run time and brisk pace.

I think kids, teenagers, and parents will also easily enjoy Goosebumps. It's a fun little adventure with some horror elements, but it's mostly a pleasant comedy. It's remarkably similar to Jumanji (1995) or It (2017). If you liked either of those films, you might like Goosebumps.

The highlight here is clearly Jack Black as R.L. Stine himself. He is always funny, but really shines here in a likable take on the legendary author in question. He plays up the wit of an author with the paranoia of a hermit like figure such as Stine. I like Black in Goosebumps quite a bit.

Furthermore, the standout star among the teenagers is certainly Odeya Rush. She is very cute as the girl next door, but also plays a cool heroine. Her naturalistic and realistic bravery with her sincere delivery makes Goosebumps have greater stakes, while grounding the movie. I hope to see more of Rush as she appears to have great potential as an actress.

Unfortunately, the male leads are fairly bland. Dylan Minnette and Ryan Lee are so extraneous to this story that they drag it down. Their humor and line delivery ranges from passable to awkward. They often get decent dialogue, but it falls so flat due to their cringe inducing acting. They do not ruin the movie, but they are not my favorite part either.

On the other hand, I do like Amy Ryan and Jillian Bell as the supporting ladies in the cast. They bring a warmth and natural humor to Goosebumps that is definitely appreciated by me. I like their rapport with each other and how they play off their surroundings. They could have been used even more, honestly.

Lastly, I should mention Goosebumps' score is composed by the steadfast Danny Elfman. His music is dark, atmospheric, but oozes a certain whimsical charm that is no different here. I think he was the perfect fit for Goosebumps.

Overall, this will likely not be anyone's new favorite Halloween movie, but I suspect most audiences will be surprised by how much the enjoy Goosebumps. It's worth a watch.