Strange World

More like 'subtext world.' Man, are there layers of not-so-subtle meaning in this piece—and that’s in just the first 20 minutes. A lot of that messaging is the sort of stuff makes Florida governor-types flip their lids, so it’s no wonder Disney has some wrestling matches on its hands. The messages and motives in and of themselves are relatively innocuous (alternative lifestyles as normal, ultra conscious ultra diversity, environmentalism, rejection of past legacies), but they are, in this context, so obvious as to be distracting. It can be hard to judge a movie like this just as a movie, on its merits as an entertainment, when the viewer has to sift through so much signaling to see the tale itself. When the viewer does get a grip on the tale itself, he finds two very big problems with it: a large dose of predictability and a central focus on a set of characters who are, thanks to their interpersonal conflicts playing out and overweening the story, rather unlikable and often tedious. The whole father-son battle had been done before, and this telling breaks no ground (other than perhaps the wrinkle that, when the battle moves into a third generation, it will have nowhere else to go, thanks to one character’s specific persona). As for the big reveal, it actually comes as no surprise at all to anyone paying close attention to the visuals—or, for that matter, anyone who has ever heard of that old chestnut “Fantastic Voyage.” Thus, the viewer is way ahead of the filmmakers by the time the rather ham-handed message delivery that spins off that reveal makes its arrival. Those visuals throughout are impressive in a standard 21st century animated work sort of way, but there’s nothing here that comes across as revolutionary in this work (and as the story setting is an entirely made up milieu, the animators can’t even get points for accuracy or realistic depiction). Finally, lest we forget—as if we are ever allowed to—this flick features yet another annoying sidekick critter, a Disney-standard trope that, through its inclusion here, heightens the sense that this film is largely formulaic in its construction. Overall, there isn’t enough here to declare this a bad movie, but there isn’t enough to exactly recommend it either.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

The junior league version of the DC universe gets another outing--and as with many a minor-leaguer, it follows up a great game with a few errors. The humor in this episode doesn’t come across quite as fresh or clever. The impact of a solid cast of characters, all back from the original, is diluted here, And the plot pulls some of its punches, enough to make the stakes less terrifying and more tepid. (Also, what gods? The trio of presumed Olympians is decidedly second-rate. I guess it would have required a Superman flick to get Zeus involved.) So is this one a bad movie? No, that’s a bit too harsh. You don’t have to feel ashamed if you spend a couple of hours with it. And, again, with minor-leaguers, most of the reason you  sign them up is for potential. There’s still some possibilities in this corner of the extended franchise--but the producers had better make sure the next entry is spot on, or audiences will be only too ready to designate this player for assignment to the cinematic version of retirement.

Shanghai Noon

Nothing earthshaking; just standard adventure-movie fun. Jackie Chan lightens up and plays this one for broader laughs, and Owen Wilson provides his typical dose of goofy charm.