![\"goosebumps\"](\"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/goosebumps.jpg\")
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Jack Black, monsters and imagination \u2013 what could possibly go wrong? Well, the latter, actually, which is quite concerning for a film about bringing stories to life. Perhaps the old nostalgia is kicking in, a longing for a half-decent return to the days of Jumanji<\/em> (1995) \u2013 \u2018re-imagining\u2019 on the cards for next year – or The Never Ending Story<\/em> (1984). There were such high hopes for Goosebumps<\/em>, a nod to such 80s\/90s film pop culture.<\/p>\n Based on R.L. Stine\u2019s successful book series, it sees two teenagers team up with young adult horror writer R.L. Stine (Black) and his daughter, after the author\u2019s imaginary demons are set lose to wreck havoc on the town of Madison, Delaware.<\/p>\n The problem isn\u2019t the imaginative aspect of the villainous characters \u2013 there are plenty of them to be thrilled by for all ages. It\u2019s the lack of any actual story using them all constructively. Once the Abominable Snowman is set lose, the whole film is a stop-and-start chase \u2013 people running, coming-of-age moment, people running, another coming-of-age moment etc. Nothing actually happens with said baddies to develop their presence, apart from with creepy ventriloquist dummy Slappy (voiced by Black) \u2013 every adult\u2019s worst nightmare come true, let alone a kid\u2019s.<\/p>\n The filmmakers \u2013 director Rob Letterman and writers Darren Lemke, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski \u2013 have caught the essence of Stine\u2019s Goosebump<\/em> books, bringing the characters to life, but left them \u2018hanging\u2019 in our world with not much to do. This film feels much like a dress rehearsal for the real thing to come \u2013 Part II of which is nicely set up at the end of this film.<\/p>\n Also, there\u2019s this annoying filmmaker mentality nowadays that seems to perpetuate the notion that kids don\u2019t have very long attention spans, so let\u2019s make everything snappy so we don\u2019t have to develop any storylines properly. After all, kids will love the fast pace of Goosebumps<\/em>. To an extent, this is true, but it smacks of sloppy filmmaking, choosing big effect over substance.<\/p>\n Even Black is a tad overcooked in this, overplaying his usual eccentric self as Stine. He does deliver some brief comedy moments though, such as the Stephen King digs at Stine\u2019s expense. The rest of the youthful cast of Dylan Minnette (Zach, the boy crush), Odeya Rush (Hannah, Stine\u2019s naturally pretty daughter) and Ryan Lee (Champ, the usual cool nerd) are fairly vanilla, considering the lads have precedent, having starred in R.L. Stine\u2019s The Haunting Hour<\/em> TV series (2011-2013). That said they are sure to get some fans, if only because some kids would love to swap places with them in tackling the monsters.<\/p>\n Goosebumps<\/em> does give you the pips with some chilling moments as all your childhood fears emerge. It also gives you the willies at how zany the pace is and how much it squanders a perfectly brilliant imaginative set-up. Let\u2019s hope Part II gets a plot and a better outing for its characters and Black\u2019s huge talent.<\/p>\n 2\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n