‘World’ update falls flat

Around the World in 80 Days
PG
Playing at area theaters
Two reels out of four

The Oscar-winning 1956 classic Around the World in 80 Days has its fans and its detractors.

To its boosters, it is the ultimate popcorn movie, a magnificent spectacle courtesy of its producer — master showman Mike Todd. To its detractors, it is Hollywood excess personified.

The newest version hitting theaters isn’t really a remake, since both were based on Jules Verne’s timeless book, set in 1872. But it no doubt will invite comparisons to the original.

Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan) is an eccentric inventor who whiles away the day solving the secrets to flight and electricity, and even has come up with the ancestor to Rollerblades. Yet respect evades him at the Royal Academy of Science.

After getting into a heated discussion with the academy’s pompous head, Lord Kelvin, Phileas accepts a wager that he can circle the globe in an unheard-of 80 days. With his trusty valet, Passepartout (Jackie Chan), Fogg sets out on his improbable journey. After adventures in France, India, China and America, Phileas arrives back in England just in time for his self-imposed deadline.

Film buffs invariably bring up the 1956 version of Around the World in 80 Days when discussing the phenomenon of star cameos. Such cinematic lights as Noel Coward, Charles Boyer, Marlene Dietrich and Frank Sinatra (playing a saloon pianist) took time out of their busy schedules to be associated with the prestigious production. And that was just the short list. The casting had members of the audience musing, "Isn’t that … ?" as they cheerfully munched their popcorn.

A halfhearted attempt is made at cameo casting this time around, but the ubiquitous Wilson brothers (Luke and Owen) hardly compare to their predecessors. And Rob Schneider? I don’t think so.

If only ill-conceived cameos were this film’s biggest problem, it would be pretty good. Director Frank Coraci, known for directing several Adam Sandler hits, is a tad out of his league here. Although there are some amusing moments for sure (one particularly funny scene involves the Impressionists), the film lacks the focus needed for this type of venture.

If you’ll forgive the pun, this movie’s all over the map. One minute it’s trying to be a rousing adventure. Another minute it’s a Hong Kong chop-socky flick (choreography courtesy of Mr. Chan).

British comic Coogan makes an appealing Phileas, although it sometimes looks as if he’s reaching too hard. Likewise for Chan, who adds both comic relief and humanity to the affair.

Kudos to Disney for reintroducing a classic novel to a whole new generation. Unfortunately, the studio didn’t do much more.

Recommended rental

Bad Santa
Available Tuesday
Rated R

What can you say about a movie that’s so tasteless, it makes a Farrelly brothers flick seem positively Capraesque? Say "pass the popcorn" and sit your tush down and watch this puppy ’cause it’s funny as hell. Billy Bob Thornton plays a drunk who joins forces with a diabolical dwarf each year to rob a department store while posing as Santa and one of his elves. Things change when "Santa" meets a fat kid (Brett Kelly) with no friends. They change, but not much. Unrelentingly unsentimental and near brilliant, this is a must for fans of dark comedy.