But then it changes it completely as we have Passepartout being a Chinese man on the run having stolen an already stolen Jade Buddha to return it home. So "Around the World in 80 Days" basically takes Verne's idea of a Phileas Fogg and his valet Passepartout taking a bet and trying to travel around the world in 80 days. But their travels are troubled ones as whilst they gain a travelling companion in the attractive Monique La Roche (Cécile De France) they have to deal with numerous attempts at sabotaging there journey. And when the snobs at the Royal Academy of Science challenge Fogg to go around the world in 80 days Passepartout is happy to accompany him as it means he can return the Buddha to its rightful place in his village in China.
But as a way to keep young children amused and adults marvelling at how much Steve Coogan looks like Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen it works.Īfter stealing back an important Jade Buddha, Lau Xing ( Jackie Chan - Rush Hour) pretends to be a French valet called Passepartout so he can hide out with eccentric inventor Phileas Fogg ( Steve Coogan - Night at the Museum 2). I wouldn't even say it is a worthy introduction to Verne's story because it embellishes and changes things so much, come on did Verne write about martial arts, I don't think so. Nope this is Disney taking the basic storyline and turning it into an amusing adventure for young audiences who will laugh at the characters, marvel at the special effects and enjoy watching lots of Jackie Chan demonstrating his brilliance for comical fighting. Ian McNeice, who plays Colonel Kitchener is also in the 1989 mini-series version.Īfter production costs of about $110million and marketing costs of $30million, it earned $24million at the US box office and $72million worldwide, making it a considerable cinema box office failure, but it finally turned a profit on DVD sales.For those wanting an exciting adaptation of Jules Verne's story "Around the World in 80 Days" clear off because this isn't it. The effects are seamless, thanks to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, Rhythm & Hues and the Computer Film Company.Ī miscast Kathy Bates plays Queen Victoria: where was Prunella Scales when we needed her? Also in the cast are John Cleese (as grizzled sergeant), Owen Wilson as Wilbur Wright, Luke Wilson as Orville Wright, Rob Schneider as a San Francisco hobo, Macy Gray as sleeping French woman, Mark Addy as the steamer captain, Richard Branson as Balloon Man, Roger Hammond as Lord Rhodes, David Ryall as Lord Salisbury and Will Forte as young French policeman Bobby.ĭirector Frank Coraci can be seen a cameo as angry dapper pedestrian.
#JACKIE CHAN 80 DAYS MOVIE#
By far the most distinguished aspects of the movie are Perry Andelin Blake’s handsome sets designs and the visual effects and model work. It also helps enormously that it’s an extraordinarily handsome and plush production. If it were tennis, you’d call his performance ‘out!’ Overacting wildly, Ewen Bremner is horrible as the dogged cockney Detective Fix, a role nailed nicely by Robert Newton in the original. It was Schwarzenegger’s last film before his gap from acting as Governor of California. Irritating some, it deviates wildly from the novel and includes anachronistic elements for daft comedy reasons.įogg bets pompous Lord Kelvin (Jim Broadbent) of the Royal Science Society that he can travel the globe in 80 days, and picks up two jolly pals: Jackie Chan as his gentleman’s gentleman valet Passepartout (who is on a secret mission to recover a stolen Buddha) and Cécile De France as his French love interest, Monique.Īn ideal Chan is a ball of energy, while Coogan plays it commendably straight and they form a good double act. A sometimes-plodding movie livens up with sparky martial arts action and nifty cameos, including a daft turn from Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Turkish Prince Hapi. He makes a fair stab at his big star role as Jules Verne’s 1899-set Victorian inventor and adventurer Phileas Fogg in this lavish and entertaining but sometimes sluggish family film version of Jules Verne’s adventure yarn spruced up for the new millennium. Around the World in 80 Days *** (2004, Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, Cécile De France, Jim Broadbent) – Classic Movie Review 2453ĭirector Frank Coraci’s 2004 remake of producer Mike Todd’s 1956 five-Oscar-winning original stars a reasonably well-cast Steve Coogan.
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