Journey 2: The Mysterious Island | Film review

Josh Hutherson and Dwayne Johnson in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson walks off with this sequel to 2008’s Journey to the Center of the Earth. He’s crazy buff, smart, funny and even sings a sweet rendition of “What a Wonderful World” while playing a ukulele. This mediocre 3-D fantasy-adventure offers a few other quirky surprises (Michael Caine riding bareback on a giant bee?). But the story—which sends Johnson’s character and his amateur-explorer stepson (Josh Hutcherson) on a search for the boy’s long-lost adventurer grandfather (Caine), landing them in what turns out to be Atlantis—is an eye-roller, with a frenetic pace and lack of wit. Those very qualities may endear it to a young audience.