‘Goosebumps 2’ avoids entertain for adults with a film just for the kids
The Jack Black led Goosebumps film in 2015 surprised fans and critics with a fun, fast-paced movie for kids, but entertaining for their parents. Now the followup from Sony, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, plagued by delays, changes in cast and creative minds, lands in theaters with a giant thud.
The new film takes place in Wardenclyffe, a small town where R.L. Stine (Jack Black in the first movie) used to live. As it turns out, Stine left perhaps his most dangerous Goosebumps manuscript in his since-abandoned house there – as two young friends named Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor) and Sam (Caleel Harris) learn the hard way, after they open Stine’s enchanted manuscript and inadvertently unleash a whole lot of spooky creatures into our world.
If this sounds like a rehash of the first film, then you are 100% correct except for one thing – no Jack Black.
Spoilers aside, Black’s absence leaves a major void in the comedic pace as the creatures wreak havoc on the small town.
The film also stars Madison Iseman, Ken Jeong, Wendi Mclendon-Covey, and Chris Parnell. That is all notable only in confirming a list of actors who don’t really matter much to the audience.
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is clearly for the kids. It is fun, but simple. Sony does manage to setup another pic, so there’s hope to get the formula right and produce something as entertaining as the first flick.
Goosebumps 2 get 2 stars out of 5 stars
