December 24, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Film: Gullivers Travels

Cast (includes): Jack Black, Amanda Peet, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, TJ Miller, James Corden, Catherine Tate, Billy Connolly

Director: Rob Letterman

Genre: Adventure, science fiction, comedy

Ratings:**1/2

Travel writer Lemuel Gulliver (essayed by Jack Black) is a geeky bloke devastatingly in love with his editor Darcy (played by Amanda Peet). He often copy pastes articles from the internet and passes them off as his own work of brilliance merely to impress his lady-love. One day he takes up a travel assignment (after mouthing another set of lies) in the Bermuda Triangle where he bumps into ant-sized people on the land of Lilliput.

Gulliver, somehow, rescues the Lilliput-citizens from their arch enemies and becomes an overnight hero in their eyes. The director tries to dabble into some humour by presenting Gulliver as a fraud who conquers all hearts by telling blatant lies. Here too, Jack Black rambles about his noble deeds back in America and teaches them scenes from Star Wars and Titanic recounting falsely that they are part of his real life.

The film tries hard to be hilarious (for instance, how Gulliver puts off a castle fire by urinating) but it is hardly so. The gags are over-the-top and fail to elucidate laughter. Even the language, at times, strays on towards the taboo.

However, Jason Segel shines through as he plays Horatio conjuring up an arresting performance. Nevertheless, since, the film gets a release on Christmas day, it can be touted as a big disappointment for the movie buffs who would be keen to watch a satisfying flick. But with foul language and objectionable humour, the film lacks both the charm of Jonathan Swifts classic and the hilarity of a modern satire.

--Sampurn Wire