This latest adaptation of the Jules Verne novel, Around the World in 80 Days, manages to entertain strictly because of its charming lead actors, and its unwavering dedication to the tone it sets and sticks to throughout the film. It might be a very silly movie, but it knows it's silly and it runs with it. Of course, what it might be remembered for most, if it is remembered, is the near cameo appearance of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his last filmed role before becoming the Governor of California.
The screenwriters took a few liberties with the story this time around. Most notably, Passepartout (Chan) is now the star of the film. The movie begins with his robbery of the Bank of England. He disguises himself as a French (on his father's side) valet, who finds employment with the inventor Phileas Fogg (Coogan), after he test-drives one of Fogg's experiments.
With a little encouragement from Passepartout, Fogg has soon made his bet to circumnavigate the world in 80 days. Passepartout's reasons being that he needs to return the Jade Buddha to his people in China, which was stolen from his village and which he stole back from the bank. Of course the setup is really just to get the traveling in motion.
Along the way, Fogg and Passepartout run into an assortment of odd characters – played by various celebrities, although not as many or of the caliber as in the 1956 version – in exotic locales. Most notably, of course, is Governor Schwarzenegger as Turkish Prince Hapi, who takes a liking to Monique, the French painter that joined the traveling duo in Paris. In a surreal and humorous bit, that runs too long, it is revealed that Prince Hapi was the model for Rodin's "The Thinker".
Coupled with the silly humor, which often takes bizarre turns (Mark Addy's nipple-less Captain, as an example), are the prerequisite, family-friendly fight scenes that you'd expect in any movie starring Jackie Chan. While he's definitely beginning to show his age, Chan is still able to stage an entertaining fight with his catlike moves. Unfortunately, after about the third one, the fights become a little repetitive, and given the two hour running time, you start to wish they'd left a few on the cutting room floor.
The three lead actors, Chan, Coogan, and Cécile De France as Monique, work well together and give the movie its heart. They help keep this mishmash of Jackie Chan antics and surreal humor on track. Chan and Coogan work particularly well, with Chan playing off Coogan's stiff upper lippedness. Their work makes up in some ways for the movie's weaker points, when the comedy becomes too cartoonish.
While it may not be remembered in the same way as the vastly over-rated 1956 version, this latest retelling does entertain. It's not a perfect movie, but it is surprisingly better than you're likely to expect.
