But it's in 3-D!

But it’s in 3-d!
Journey to the Center of the Earth Movie Review

Under normal circumstances, I would not, repeat not, in a billion-zillion years go to a movie starring Brendan Fraser.

He’s not funny. He’s not cute. And he’s not a good actor. He is however staring in the newly released remake of “Journey to the Center of the Earth“. Strike one against the film. Plus, this movie looked like total cheese from the just the previews. And considering that the previews always show the best parts…. Strike two. Then there’s the fact that it’s a remake of an already crappy movie based on an equally crappy novel. Three strikes, you’re out! I think that you can get my drift. “Journey to the Center of the Earth“ = not on the top of my list of movies to see. Wouldn’t even make the Netflix list.

But since this is a review of that same movie I so vehemently just bashed, I think I have some explaining to do. It’s simple really. It boils down to three things. Company. Money. And Awesomeness.

My mother and father in law are great! They love movies more than their own children, a sad, true and tested fact. Their standing record is 19 movies at the show in one month. That‘s “at the show“. Add in movies watched at home, and I am sure they’ve topped 40. They have more tapes and DVD’s than the average mom -n- pop corner video store. This makes them “cool” in my eyes. And the best company to see a movie with. We gossip before the show starts, review/make fun of the previews, and then they know when to shut up as the feature starts to roll.

What makes them great? They never, ever, let me pay for anything, even if I insist. It‘s not happening. Ken, that‘s the father in law, has actually stuffed money back into my purse. Movies are expensive. And I’m cheap. Free movie? Sure I’ll tag along. Plus, it was like ninety-five degrees and humid here in Chicago that day, and my cheap ass keeps the temperature at my house set to 78 or 80, so it was also like free air conditioning.

I was a little reluctant on the phone when Candy, the mother in law, first asked me to go. See first paragraph again for details. Then, she mentioned that the movie was in 3-D. That’s the third dimension. That meant that all those cheesy dinosaurs and explosions would be popping off the big screen, scaring the crap out of me!

I went into the movie expecting little and honestly thinking I would hate it. I’m glad I went in with such low expectations! Since I was already bashing it before it started, the movie had nowhere to go but up. So it had to be better than I thought it would be.

Sure, the acting did suck. But I expected nothing more from Mr. Fraser and a cast of no bodies. Yeah, it was completely predictable and cheesy. But it was also fun! 3-d is cool. And while some of the scenes were obviously done solely because the movie was going to be shown in 3-d. But so what. I spent a weekday afternoon in a pretty cool fictional paradise with a giant t-rex swatting at me and little birds fluttering all around me. I was out of the heat and with two people I love. They laughed out load, so I did too. They clapped as the credits started to role, and I wasn’t embarrassed. I put aside the fact that I thought I was too cool for this movie, and just let myself enjoy it for what it is. A just fine, summer-time popcorn flick.