Jack and the Beanstalk (2010) Review
Submitted by: Kevin Chertkow

This is an unexpectedly pleasant movie. I rented it because I wanted to have a movie the kids would watch and selfishly get a little quite time for myself. There was not much of a selection to choose from, when Jack and the Beanstalk practically jumped into my hands. I had just read them the Jack and the Beanstalk story out of "The Kingfisher Book of Fairy Tales" by Vivian French, just a week earlier. I thought they would enjoy the movie more since they just got to know the story. Learning that Christopher Lloyd, Chevy Chase, James Earl Jones, and more were staring in it, I decided it might be interesting movie. Needless to say, I gave up my quite time and turned it into movie time and I am glad I did. We all enjoyed the movie.

The movie pretty much follows the foundation of the Jack and the Beanstalk story; however, with very modern twists. For example, Jack has to sell his C.O.W. (Computer Of Wonder) a pocket video game system instead a literal cow for a handful of magic beans. The movie is plotted in a fairy tale land, so kids will quickly recognize other fairy tale names and stories like Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Prince Charming, and others who are Jack’s classmates. Jack’s mom looses her job because elves keep coming in the shoemaker’s shop in the middle of the night and finishes all her work. An emperor claims he is wearing some fancy new clothes.

In the movie, Jack dreams of being a hero and saving a damsel in distress. Unfortunately, Jack is failing fairy tale school and if he cannot produce evidence of performing a heroic deed his teacher, (Christopher Lloyd) will fail him. Jack is unknowingly put on the path of adventure when a shifty pawnshop clerk (Wallace Shawn) trades Jack a handful of magic beans for his C.O.W.  As the story moves on Jack’s goose, which eats one of the magic beans, turns into a hysterical half human, half goose sidekick played by Gilbert Godfrey.

The movie was fun for the whole family. Gilbert Godfrey had my kids rolling on the floor, while Jillian (Chloe Moretz) had them dazzled when she took on a group of ninjas in a pillow fight. I got a little concerned when the giant was first introduced because he looked more like an evil troll than a giant. When you add James Earl Jones deep booming voice, I could see how it could be disturbing for youngsters who are sensitive to this sort of thing. I was pleasantly surprised that it went over without any repercussions.





Overall, I did not have high expectations but it turned out to be a delightful movie. It was well worth the loss of personal time in exchange for movie time with the kids.