A frightfully fun fright flick for families, Goosebumps is witty and dark, never descending into terribly distressing territory, but neither thumbing its nose entirely at the idea that nothing scary ever happens in the real world.
Jack Black stars as R.L. Stine, the man who wrote the original Goosebumps, as well as a host of other books for young people. Though Black is the headliner, the story itself revolves around Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette), newly arrived in a small town with his mother Gale (Amy Ryan), who is about to take up a new post as high-school vice principal.
Zach's eye is quickly caught by a pretty teenager who lives next door, Hannah (Odeya Rush). She is home-schooled by her protective and secretive father, the aforementioned -- though yet to be identified -- R.L. Stine, who insists that Zach stay away from Hannah, without explaining why. Hannah didn't get the memo, though, and later that day she invites Zach along on an exploration of the town's abandoned amusement park. If they don't exactly fall in love, Zach is certainly smitten.
Just as quickly, Zach captures the attention of a very friendly classmate, Champ (Ryan Lee), who is, let us say, "off-beat," but has no hang-ups about it. Soon thereafter, hearing a loud dispute between Hannah and her father next door, Zach feels compelled to investigate. Zach and Champ then stumble into a private library, and discover why R.L. Stine is so secretive, and protective of Hannah: his books can come to life. Literally. And since they're filled with all kinds of unearthly creatures, that means big trouble when the books come alive and unleash a mass of monsters.
Writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski came up with the story for the film, making place for a star of Jack Black's magnitude, but the trio of Zach, Hannah, and Champ are the main players, and the young actors are quite capable in their roles; they are likable and dependable, yet still capable of a hint of mischief, which makes them sympathetic protagonists. Darren Lemke (Shrek Forever After, Jack the Giant Slayer) wrote the nimble screenplay, which weaves in a good variety of the monsters R.L. Stine scattered throughout his series, using them effectively to propel the movie to its conclusion.
Animation veteran Rob Letterman (Shark Tale, Monsters vs. Aliens) directed, capably guiding the film and its many CGI-created creatures. He's worked with Jack Black before, on the rather miserable Gulliver's Travels, and, while Black's performance never rises above the material, it proves quite fitting for this movie.
Fleet-footed as it is, Goosebumps is the cinematic equivalent of an easy read, the kind of movie that's easy to watch and doesn't require too much intellectual or emotional engagement, but still leaves a pleasant aftertaste.
The film opens wide in theaters across the U.S. on Friday, October 16.