Film: The House With a Clock in its Walls
Stars: Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Owen Vaccaro, Kyle Ma
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Where: Marcus Cinema (Des Peres, MO) NOTE: If you haven’t been to this theater in awhile it has been totally redone. I miss a few of the display items in the lobby (namely the full-size Han Solo in carbonite that was there), but overall it is a big improvement. More comfy seats, but they seem a shade narrower then other revamped theaters in the area. Still a comfortable movie-going experience this time.
Premise: In 1955, a young boy, Lewis, is sent to live with his estranged uncle after the death of his parents. His uncle Jonathan is an eccentric character living in an equally eccentric old house with A LOT of clocks. But those clocks can’t cover-up the ticking noises coming from inside the walls of the house itself. What is his uncle searching for in the house at all hours of the day and night? What does Uncle Jonathan’s friend and neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman, have to do with any of this? Armed with his magic eight ball, googles and dictionary knowledge, Lewis sets out to conquer a new middle school and answer the questions of the house.
He Said: …. (Wasn’t at this one)
She Said: It was a fun film overall. Very colorful and imaginative. It reminded me of the first Jumanji movie in that it had a family-friendly story that could be engaging to both kids and adults. Jack Black was a wonderful choice for the eccentric Uncle Johnathan, who had a more than perfect foil in Cate Blanchett’s Mrs. Zimmerman. Their pater and barbs were perfectly paced and timed, but never gave you the impression of anger toward each other. Only of friends that were comfortable enough in their friendship to be able to say what they are thinking without fear of losing that friend. Other than that, the action of the film was predictable but enjoyable. Enjoyable enough to get me interested in seeing what the rest of the book series the movie is based on holds. SCORE: 6 (out of a scale of 1 to 10)
Middle-aged @ the Movies 