Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer

IN KEEPING with Jackie Chan's most recent flicks, Around the World in 80 Days is a bit of wanton silliness which at times manages to be rather funny. Nonetheless, it is quite possible that Disney's current remake of Around the World in 80 Days will cause Jules Verne, author of the novel by the same name, to turn over in his grave again and again and yet again. This Jackie Chan/Disney rendition of the story bears only the slightest resemblance (from a side view) to the novel which provides its basis. All that the movie and the classic novel share in common are names and some countries. The characterisations, incidents and even the reason Phileas Fogg and Passepartout journey around the world are completely different.

This time around, the focus is on Passepartout (Jackie Chan) rather than Fogg (Steve Coogan), though the master/servant relationship remains the same. Additionally, this rendition turns Fogg into a forward thinking inventor who is being held back by the scientific community. Interestingly, they have turned the imperialist tone of the original on its head. The novel spends most of its time celebrating the wonder of the Englishman and how English the colonies had become. In the movie's case, mostly through the efforts of the support cast, the English look highly unimaginative and backward.

IMPRESSIONISTIC VIEW

Passepartout and Fogg begin their journey around the world, because of a bet and a jade Buddha. However, most of the world is presented in an impressionistic view. While this may have suited the producer's image of the text, it robbed Around the World in 80 Days of its travel book appeal. Most of the first half of the flick is more ideally suited to small children and those who revel in physical comedy. This segment is where most of the silliness resides. Indeed, between the action elements, the show tends to drag its feet. However, toward the latter half, the fight choreography becomes worthy of Jackie Chan as it combines awesome martial arts skill with the usual comedy of errors.

Chan's hallmark has not merely been his skill. He is possibly the only martial arts actor who has made a reputation of not only being a good fighter, but actually being one who makes many mistakes. As such, much humour has always gone into his fight choreography.

Like Chan's fighting style, Around the World in 80 Days also contains many mistakes. The cruellest and funniest of them is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even if one can overlook the ludicrousness of having Schwarzenegger play a Turkish prince, one certainly cannot overlook the horrible wig he wore. The wig actually deserves an Oscar for having convinced anybody to put it on his head.

Around the World in 80 Days is clearly more suited to the young. However, parents who have to take their children do not have much to fear, especially if they are Jackie Chan fans. While the fight choreography brings nothing new to the table, a few of the scenes easily live up to his standard, which makes them entertaining. By no means a classic, Around The World in 80 Days just manages to be funny enough.

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