Light, amusing -- a cross between action and stand up comedy

Rating: Null/10 (24 February 2004)

I rented this video to watch with my 2 sons, who are 10 and 13. All of us enjoyed the movie, though none of us absolutely adored it.
I liked the way they interrupted the movie at exactly those points where my boys were becoming uncomfortable to show the little boy who was listening to the story -- as told by his grandfather -- and also becoming uncomfortable. It was uncanny that at the very moment where one of my sons might walk out of the room, the little boy appeared saying he did not like the story. This helped my kids sit through the movie.
This also helped prevent the suspense from getting too high for the kids.

The suspense was also kept low, because the characters kept pausing to make humourous remarks. There was a kind of odd tension between the movie trying to be an action movie and also trying to be stand up comedy.
A lot of the lines were quite funny, though none of us was rolling on the floor.
The two leads were incredibly good-looking. I'm surprised they haven't become more famous since then.
One thing I didn't like was that the lead woman was depicted as so helpless. At one point the hero was battling giant rodents and the lady just watched. She picked up a large stick but didn't even bonk the creature who was attacking the man she supposedly loved. That was a sexist depiction. I can't imagine any real woman doing the same.
This is not a movie that should be watched for its great acting or profound message. It's light and fluffy for a low stress, unintellectual experience. It is very suitable for elementary school age children -- and even my middle schooler seemed ok with it.