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With gas prices hovering somewhere in the stratosphere, you may want to take a shorter journey, perhaps to your local movieplex for a little adventure and lots of fun. Just don’t expect Brendan Fraser to sing like Pat Boone.

Directed with panache by first time director Eric Brevig, Journey to the Center of the Earth manages to take us for a thrill-ride without ever leaving your seat. Armed with 3D glasses and low expectations, I attended one of the press screenings last week hoping to duck into the theatre for 2 hours of a little entertainment and lots of cool air-conditioning. What I came out with (besides a pair of 3D glasses) was a jolly good time and a true appreciation for modern technology.

The first scene opens with the visualization of a creepy 10+ legged bug – you know the kind that hides in the crawl-space of your imagination. As it spits into the lens, you could hear the entire audience gasp with horror and delight. Too bad the movie seats didn’t have seatbelts attached – it would have been the perfect time to strap ‘em on.

We first meet Professor Trevor Anderson (the sweet faced Brendan Fraser) as he delivers a yawn-inducing lecture to bored students. He is the Clark Kent of teachers – unassuming and completely unaware of his boyish good looks. He’s about to get a visit from his 10 year old nephew Sean (Josh Hutchenson) who is much more interested in Playstation then in Earth Science. And who can blame him? His father died many years ago while researching a volcanic tube. And frankly, Uncle Trevor is a class A slob –evidenced by the “throwing a blanket over the mess to cover it” technique (which he may have very well learned from me!)

In an effort to engage his surly nephew, Trevor pulls out his brother’s copy of the book Journey to the Center of the Earth, complete with hand-written notes in the left margin. And without ever calling his mother to find out if it was alright with her, Trevor and Sean embark on a scientific expedition in search of the Holy Grail of volcanic tubes located somewhere in Iceland. Along the way they meet up with Hannah Ásgeirsson (the lovely Icelandic native Anita Briem) who accompanies them on their death-defying trip. Just about here, you are expected to suspend all belief and just sit back and enjoy.

The trio navigates through treacherous terrain amidst surreal effects including man-eating plants, phosphorescent birds and very hungry dinosaurs. More then once the entire audience reacted to giant, sharp teeth snapping directly into their faces. A hearty “bravo” to the special effects team – they got me to wince more then once.

So, what will I say when asked whether I can recommend this film to kids? It is rated PG by the MPAA for “intense adventure action and some scary moments,” so leave the real little ones at home. But for a delightful diversion from the heat, I would even grab Grandma and take her along for the ride. Just let her know that Brendan won’t be singing in this version.

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