Around The World In 80 Days

Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, Robert Fyfe, Jim Broadbent, Ian McNeice
Director: Frank Coraci
Number of discs: 1
Rated PG
Walt Disney Video

 

Around The World In 80 Days suffers from too much camp and not enough camp at the same time. If you are going to do a campy movie then you should have the guts to go with it all the way. Where Around The World In 80 Days fails is in its unwillingness to push it to the Nth degree and descend into true silliness. Instead it walks a line somewhere between earnestness and buffoonery.

Easily the best feature of Around The World In 80 Days is Jackie Chan. Chan’s flawless comic timing and ability to wow the audience with martial arts moves that also feature genuine comic relief is the only saving grace of an otherwise abysmal movie experience. As a fan of the Verne novel it is difficult to endure this movie most of the time. Like the David Niven 1950’s version this rendition of Around The World In 80 Days has the same feeling of a travelogue instead of feeling like a movie.

There are sight gags aplenty in this movie and guest shots featuring some of Hollywood’s A list and B list stars. There are historical references which could have been mildly entertaining if they weren’t delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. All in all Around The World In 80 Days is a movie only a Jackie Chan completist collector would add to their DVD library: There is no excuse to own it otherwise.

 

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