And a short time to get there!
The Story:
The story opens with a thief (Jackie Chan) escaping from the Bank of England with a rare jade Buddha. He hides out with an eccentric inventor, Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan) who entrusts his new companion as his valet. When they are mocked at the Royal Academy of Science, a wager is made between Fogg and Lord Kelvin (Jim Broadbent). If Fogg can circumnavigate the globe and return to the Academy within 80 days, he can become the new minister of science. If not, then he must never invent...again!
Would it help to remind you that this film, that's about to celebrate its 10th Anniversary, was a Disney film?
Because that will explain how the source material is blown up and completely rearranged from the book.
The book was a wonderful read by Jules Verne, but since it's been nearly 30 years since I read it, but it remains a happy memory for me.
This movie, well it's designed to entertain the kids, and not bore the parents.
In that regard, well it mostly succeeds.
The cast is generally likeable, and they sprinkled in famous cameos to bump into Fogg and Passepartout along the way.
Plus they add Cecile De France who plays Monique La Roche, who joins the duo on their madcap race around the globe, as a potential love interest for Fogg.
Naturally with Jackie Chan in the movie, there will be several fights which serve to wake the film back up.
However, the movie is a bit bloated as it churns along for 2 hours.
There are times you might feel it's taking 80 Days...
Overall though, it could've used a good 10-20 minutes of trimming/tightening and it would've made the picture stronger, and I would give it a stronger recommendation to boot!
Overall, agreeable fluff for the family.
Final Grade: C+
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Once every 10 years seems to be about right. ;)
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