Director: Bryan Singer.
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Eleanor Tomlinson, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy.
Certificate: 12A.
Running Time: 114 minutes.
Synopsis: After daydreamer Jack (Nicholas Hoult) pawns his horse for a few magic beans, said beans sprout skyward to a mythical land where he must venture to save Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) from the clutches of a race of giants hell-bent on returning to earth from whence they were banished long ago.
It seems like only yesterday that baby-faced wunderkind Bryan Singer could do no wrong. But twenty years on, we all know Hollywood is a fickle town and toasts turned to toasting with 2006’s fumbled SUPERMAN RETURNS. Whilst the film has its advocates, Snyder’s impending MAN OF STEEL proves that it wasn’t everything it could or should have been. When Bry-Bry’s next directorial outing VALKYRIE bombed in 2008, it looked as though the fat lady had sung for Singer who took the off-ramp into the producing lane. Nevertheless, The Hollywood News still has a soft spot for the wayward director, and when JACK THE GIANT SLAYER was announced, we were genuinely excited to see what magic beans he had up his sleeves. Although wary of the current lazy fad of fairytale retellings, not to mention the film’s title change from Killer to Slayer and postponed release, we were sure this would be Singer’s return to form.
Much to our dismay, JACK THE GIANT SLAYER is an out-and-out kid’s movie. Forget a gritty reimagining, this is a matinée pantomime puff piece that’ll have anyone over the age of twelve snoozing in minutes, which could spell disaster considering the film’s 12A rating. Though well-realised, it has an ultra-sanitised Gilliam aesthetic that’s a bit too glossy and instead gives the feel of a high budget TV mini-series, namely Sky One’s The 10th Kingdom. Surprisingly the film plays the Jack and the Beanstalk narrative by the book whilst borrowing the poor boy and princess love story from Disney’s ALADDIN. The lack of originality is the film’s real shortcoming, and whilst it does expand upon a fantastical world populated by a race of giants, it’s a case of CG style over substance, never drawing the audience into the dense mythology to which the film aspires.
Whilst Nicholas Hoult is rarely challenged as the titular Jack, it’s hard to deny the rising star’s gravitas. With his off kilter good looks and underdog characterisation, he delivers lines with a perfect blend of humility and cheek to make for a lovable hero. That said, despite the calibre of an impressive supporting cast, each performance suffers from its own affliction; Eleanor Tomlinson – bland, Stanley Tucci – clichéd, Bill Nighy – mo-capped boredom, and worst of all is THN favourite Ewan McGregor who aside from the odd, ‘Tallyho!’ puts in so little effort that it can’t help but feel like a paycheck performance. The only other small and somewhat ironic pleasure is Ian McShane in the role of King Brahmwell. All hail King Lovejoy!
Ultimately JACK THE GIANT SLAYER is one for the kids. A harmless bit of fee, fi, fo, fun but forgettable film ephemera, older cinema goers expecting anything close to Singer’s best works can expect to be disappointed and ought to give it a miss. Yes, there are a few laughs and some neat scenes (the giants’ JURASSIC PARK-esque first appearance is gripping and atmospheric), but the film is light and uninspiring and ends with such a ridiculously unnecessary myth-reality mash-up that you’ll find it hard not to roll your eyes and sigh as you pick up your coat to leave disappointed by yet another feeble fairytale film. It’s time to put the bedtime stories to bed.
JACK THE GIANT SLAYER is released in UK cinemas on March 22nd.
