Zathura: A Space Adventure

An old and forgotten game develops magical powers in this fantasy for the whole family. Twelve-year-old Walter Budwing (Josh Hutcherson) and his younger brother, Danny (Jonah Bobo), figure they're going to be in for a boring time when their father (Tim Robbins), who was supposed to spend the day with them, is suddenly called away on business, and gives them strict orders not to leave the house. Walter, who doesn't have much use for Danny, is motivated by boredom more than anything else when he agrees to play a board game Danny has found in the basement during a round of hide-and-seek. However, the boys quickly discover the space-themed game Zathura has some unusual qualities -- a roll of the dice unexpectedly launches the Budwing home into outer space, and Walter and Danny are suddenly fending off menacing robots, angry aliens, and showers of interstellar debris outside the Earth's atmosphere. As the boys try to figure out a way back home, they get some unexpected help from an earthling astronaut (Dax Shepard) who has also lost his way. Based on the book by children's author Chris Van Allsburg -- who also wrote The Polar Express and Jumanji -- Zathura was directed by Jon Favreau, the actor-turned-filmmaker who enjoyed a breakthrough success with Elf. -- Mark Deming

Review by allmovie
Channeling the awe and splendor of Spielberg's early Amblin films, Jon Favreau splendidly expands Chris Van Allsburg's children's tale into a timeless adventure that the whole family can enjoy. More joyful than Jumanji, while less roller-coaster freakish than Polar Express, this adaptation nails the wonderment that both previous films missed out on, while still delivering the thrills and spills that are integral to pulpy space operas. Lizard monsters and '50s-era rockets populate this fantastical world, but the visuals would not be complete if not for the small, tight cast that holds it together. Jonah Bobo is downright adorable as wide-eyed youngest brother Danny, while Dax Shepard has a subtle charm that makes him immediately likable throughout. For his third feature, Favreau proves that he can pull off extravagant action scenes while still keeping the heart of the story intact. The director's humor shines through in various superb ways -- the best being his gleeful approach to demolishing J. Michael Riva's glorious set inch by inch. Despite its lackluster box office and a "believe it or not" reveal in the third act, Zathura taps into an imaginative world that is as wildly charming as it is exciting -- a rare feat for live-action kids' flicks in this day and age. -- Jeremy Wheeler