Jack Attack

Adventure is the name of the game, in which Jack takes on the giants of the sky to save the princess in this classic tale with a delightful twist. You can throw out the boring fable with a couple of eggs and the golden goose. This story is all giants all the time. They are slimy, foul, and you can smell them through the screen. Yet, with a magical crown, they can be dispensed for your own maniacal or magnanimous use. The story unfolds in two parts. First, there must be a damsel in distress. She runs around putting herself in predicaments and then cowers when she runs into trouble. It would be nice to a have a fable in which the princess can defend herself, but then the story is called Jack the Giantslayer afterall. Still, without Isabel’s childlike wonder, our needs for adventure would never be satisfied since it is the princess that Jack is constantly following around. Of course, he would never stand a chance for success without the help of an army. Ewin McGreggor shines as a gallant man of honor determined to defeat the evil Roderick, whom Stanley Tucci still manages to bring charm to. An epic battle ensues while the swashbuckling voyagers fight over the crown of power. Lucky for McGreggor, he also knows how to use a light saber. Just when you think the story is over and all the quests have been fulfilled, those pesky giants strike back and plot again to take over the world. Jack and Isabel have already gone their separate ways, yet somehow, it doesn’t leave any lingering emptiness in our hearts. Of course, when they meet up again she has some pretty cool armor on. This is an attempt to break the mold of the stereotypical damsel, but unfortunately she doesn’t have the gumption to complete the task. Overall, this tale is exciting and magical, but it is decidedly lacking in its ability to capture our hearts. The desire to root for the underdog and save the world of men lies beneath the surface. However, despite the stellar performances of the colorful characters, the chemistry is missing. We know they are capable of connecting with an audience, but even with a decent storyline, it hasn’t happened here. Grade: C+/B- I wouldn’t necessarily shell out the $20 to see it in the theater, but it’s still worth a Redbox visit.