Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D

Awesome, a dinosaur drooled on me!

By Matt Pais

Critic's Rating:

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Still haunted by his brother's disappearance deep into the Earth and probable death by dinosaur, professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) embarks on his own mission with his 13-year-old nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson) and attractive Icelandic mountain guide Hannah (Anita Briem). Along the way they encounter never-ending holes, mineshaft roller coasters and the continuing question of whether Jules Verne's work was based on fact.

Big question: Can 3-D elements add new life to an age-old story?

Skip it: Additional depth of field can't spruce up a "Journey" so routine, featuring a hammy Fraser who looked more comfortable underground in "Encino Man." There are a couple thrills, but just because it kinda seems like birds are flying off the screen doesn't mean you can stomach Trevor and Sean pathetically calling "dibs" on Hannah, cheesy lines about a compass pointing the way home or carnivorous plants that seem like genre stock footage.

Catch it: If you've always dreamed of using creepy, centuries-old killer fish as balls in a round of prehistoric batting practice. Your swing is not only guaranteed to improve but you can think about that throughout the 17 hours it takes to clean up after yourself.

Bottom line: The 3D glasses take you subterranean better than 2-D could, and anything that gets kids half-interested in science can't be all bad. But the plot's totally bare bones, and the rocky conditions look the same 10 feet or 10 bazillion miles below the surface--more proof that this adventure feels like somewhere everyone's been many times before.

Bonus: Sean learns that it is, in fact, possible to get cell reception in the center of the Earth. Good news for anyone who desperately needs to take a break from a high-seas chase to text, "DUDE I JST SAW SUM XTINCT DINOS. WILL SND PICS IN A MIN."

What do you think of 'Journey'? Email me: mpais@tribune.com

Find additional showtimes for the non-3D version of "Journey to the Center of the Earth."