But the author’s relieved to say the wait was worth it.
Advertisement
Just like those 400 million books sold worldwide, the movie version, energetically directed by Rob Letterman, has a tongue-in-cheek tone that undercuts the bone-rattling with a dose of funny-bone-tickling. “It has just the right balance of what I try to do in the books of presenting horror and humour”.
The rest is pure Hollywood gloss. Hunky Zack (Dylan Minnette) moves to a new town where he, the astoundingly handsome girl next door (Odeya Rush), his dorky pal (Ryan Lee), and world-famous writer (and monster hunter) R.L. Stine (Jack Black) end up amid vehicle chases, explosions, a hail of knives and a Ferris wheel rolling down a mountain. The intentions are earnest, but they fail to capture the genuine audacious spirit found in its center. The CGI on numerous creatures leaves something to be desired, but it’s a small sacrifice to be made to cram more monsters in. There are blatantly unrealistic aspects that could be addressed (a working abandoned carnival in the woods?), but they must be taken with a wide imagination, as they are a part of the Goosebumps world.
So, like a jovial E.L. James, Stine’s somehow got a movie based on his bestsellers that often actually feels like his bestsellers.
“Some kindergarteners were a little scared and left early so I don’t really recommend it for 6 and under”, he explains.
New to the milieu was Rush.
In addition to the special effects that will hold the attention of younger audience members, there’s also plenty for older audience members to enjoy.
Can you tell us about your history with the property? “So we definitely were conscious of that”.
If you were a child of the 80’s, or the parent of a child of the 80’s, you will most likely remember the beloved, if not scary, book series, Goosebumps, by R.L. Stein.
Jack Black has perennially been the goofy guy at the movies – the metal-head teacher in School of Rock and the affable panda Po in the animated Kung Fu Panda franchise. “I was so pleased with myself”, Stine said about the day he conceived of his first horror series.
Adds Minnette: “The worst thing was that even when we were laughing Jack wasn’t laughing, so it was our fault we were ruining scenes”.
Black was cast to play Stine. They open one out of curiosity-who binds Goosebumps books in leather?-and out pops the colossal Abominable Snowman, annoyed that his head grazes the living-room ceiling.
After a seriously boring opening takes away 30 minutes of time we’ll never ever get back, “Goosebumps” makes amends and really comes to life when the monsters come out to play.
Despite that and the success of the completed film, Stine admits to one disappointment.
Advertisement
Black makes the film more or less watchable by emphasizing the oddness of his character (“I rub myself with cilantro every morning”), and at least a few of the monsters are entertaining: Slappy the ventriloquist’s dummy is mildly scary, and not as wooden as Minnette.
