Gulliver's Travels DVD Review

Every once in a while, my family likes to cuddle up on the couch and have family movie night. So we were very excited when a review copy of Gulliver's Travels came in the mail this week. I remember watching the previews and thinking that this movie was going to be funny. And it met my expectations. Here is a brief summary from the press release:

A hilarious zero-to-hero story about a larger-than-life Average Joe, GULLIVER’S TRAVELS sails on to 2-disc DVD with Gulliver’s Fun Pack and 3 disc Triple Play with Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on April 19, 2011. This family-friendly misadventure features side-splitting moments with epic wedgies, Lilliputian foosball, and a square-off duel with a robot!

Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda, School of Rock) brings his irreverent humor to this adventure-comedy based on the classic tale. To impress the pretty newspaper travel editor Darcy (Amanda Peet, 2012), an underachieving mailroom clerk named Gulliver (Black) takes a writing assignment traveling to Bermuda. When a shipwreck lands him on the fantastical island of Lilliput, he transforms into a giant — in size and ego! Gulliver’s tall tales and heroic deeds win the hearts of the tiny Lilliputians, but when he loses it all and puts his newfound friends in peril, Gulliver must find a way to undo the damage. Through it all, Gulliver may just learn that it’s how big you are on the inside that counts.

Here is the trailer:

Our thoughts: My husband, my 7 year-old son, and myself sat down to watch this movie tonight. As I watched the movie, I felt various emotions and reactions. At the beginning, Gulliver is a mailroom clerk, who does not aspire to move up in the world. He has had a crush on the travel editor for 5 years, and has not gotten up the courage to ask her out. When he tries to ask her out, he chickens out and grabs an application to be a travel writer. After he turns in a sample article, Darcy offers him an assignment to check out the Bermuda Triangle. Here is where his adventure starts. He winds up on the island of Lilliput, where he is a giant. At first you feel bad for Gulliver who is imprisoned because they see him as a beast. While doing slave labor for General Edward, their island comes under attack from a neighboring army. After saving the Princess and the King, he becomes a great protector to the island.

My whole family enjoyed the movie. It is rated PG for brief rude humor, mild language, and action. For example, Gulliver saves the King who is trapped in a fire by urinating on the fire. Of course the boys found that funny, while I found myself a little grossed out. But overall, the movie taught a good lesson. Throughout the movie, Gulliver gets into trouble and loses the trust of both his crush, Darcy, and the people of Lilliput because of his lies. He was concerned about how people would perceive him because he was just a mailroom clerk. But in the end, he earns their trust back and saves them from danger. There is action, romance, and humor throughout the movie. A few of my favorite parts were: 1) Since there is no tv and videos, the people create a theater for Gulliver where they watch people act out both Star Wars and the Titanic. 2) He plays Guitar Hero with live people. 3) At the end, he asks why the neighboring islands are at war and they sing the song "War (What Is It Good For?)". I have always liked that song. At the end of the movie, my 7 year-old stated that he wanted to watch it again tomorrow. Looking for a good laugh? You might want to check out Gulliver's Travels.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the DVD in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own and are my honest opinion.