When they accidentally (or not so accidentally) break out to wreak havoc on the town, Zach, the author (who just happens to be R.L. Stine), and his daughter have to team up to save the day. As it stands, the movie isn’t quite clever enough to light a fuse in anyone’s imagination, but it’s not bad enough to make you cringe with regret over exposing yourself and/or your children to it. It makes for a passable enough October night at the movies with your family, but it won’t be a new household Halloween classic either. My astonished face caught his attention because when he was done he handed one of many books he had in his backpack (I wish I could remember the name of the first book I read was).
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The movie doesn’t really change the core formula of the Goosebumps books, with its positives and negatives.
Why turn just one or two of Goosebumps’ 100-plus stories into a movie when you can roll out all of its goofy-scary monsters in one go?
In keeping with the film’s analog themes, it’s apt that the most memorable and menacing character in the movie is brought to life via largely practical effects.
“He’s not a sinister dude at all”, Black says of Stine, in an interview with NPR’s Michel Martin.
The film is directed by Rob Letterman from a screenplay by Darren Lemke and Mike White and the story is by Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski and Darren Lemke. Even those who didn’t grow up with Chucky and the original books. The only new classmate who wants to be his friend is a dweeb clumsily named Champ (Ryan Lee from J.J. Abrams’ fine “Super 8”). By the time they realize their mistake it’s entirely too late as, unbeknownst to them, they’ve also released Slappy the Dummy (voiced also by Black), the villainous and most recognizable character from the series. Unfortunately, the encounter with the abominable snowman released Slappy, a ventriloquist dummy with a napoleonic complex. “He loved the script and he didn’t mind that I was doing a much different characterization of him. And I think we did a good job with that”. The film definitely earns the right to flaunt its source material and allows for a plausible suspension of disbelief.
With thrills aplenty and a healthy dose of creatures pulled from the pages of R.L. Stine’s vast collection of book-born horrors, “Goosebumps” is a dynamic romp on the big screen. This is a film aiming purely at the current audience, nothing more, and is that nice bridge between animated fare aimed purely at the very young and the summer action blockbuster for the slightly older. Most adults in their thirties grew up with Stine’s books and have introduced their children to the author. It remains an inspiration for Stine, even now, as he comes up with ideas for new books.
Nostalgia makes it hard to accurately judge a movie like Goosebumps. Goosebumps is a fun and enjoyable horror ride – a must for longtime fans of the monumental book series and newbies alike.
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The main monster is Slappy, and others like the garden gnomes, the Werewolf of Fever Swamp and the Giant Mantis from Shocker on Shock Street, and many others that you will most definitely spot in the background, all make appearances.
