Since Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke’s Red Riding Hood in 2011, it seems that not a year can pass these days without a classic fairy tale being adapted into a big budget Hollywood blockbuster and this year is no exception.
After a double helping of Snow White last year, this year the studios have decided to turn their attention to the classic tale of Jack and the Beanstalk with the ever so intriguing retitled Jack The Giant Slayer.
The film stars Nicholas Hoult (in his second lead role this year already) as Jack, an average farmboy who acquires some magic beans from which grows a giant beanstalk leading right to some giants no less. As the princess of the kingdom of Cloister is lost amidst the beanstalk, a rescue mission, headed by Ewan McGregor is planned, giving Jack the perfect way to prove his love to her.
As the film progresses it’s nothing new to the usual clichés that cinema audiences are all too used to by now. That said, it’s still a good bit of fun with Ewan McGregor and Ian McShane in supporting roles as well as Bill Nighy as one half of a two headed giant whose voice seems not unlike that of his most well known villainous appearance as Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Stanley Tucci also stars as the treacherous Lord Roderick. Not an all too memorable role for his career to date but a rare one in which his presence is noticed almost instantly. Although, for me, there always is a underlying doubt when it comes to Stanley Tucci’s appearance in films. For some reason he can easily hide and I won’t realise he was even in the film at all until the closing credits tell me so.
Although it does get predictable sometimes, there’s still enough adventure and surprise to keep you engaged throughout the near 2 hour run time. If you look past the predictable plot and over used dialogue, you’ll find that the only real problem with the film seems to be Hoult. Although he has proved that he can hold up a film with Warm Bodies, his lopsided awkward face makes for a rather annoying view at times. This is not helped with the fact that as main protagonist, Hoult has the most screen time. It could be a result of his zombified appearance in Warm Bodies which has maybe yet to wear off or it could just be him. Make your own conclusions…
It’s right to say that should you choose to spend your hard earned money on Jack, you won’t leave regretting it. Much.