Around the World in 80 Days (2004) Review

Around The World In 80 Days

Release Date: 26th August 2004 - Australia

Production Companies 

Walden Media

Spanknyce Films

Mostow/Lieberman Productions
Studio Babelsberg
Babelsburg Film
Fitzwilliam Productions
80 Days Productions

Distribution

Roadshow Distribution

Genre: Comedy/Adventure

Rating: PG

Runtime: 119 minutes


Budget: $110,000,000

Box Office Gross: $72,175,895
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Phileas Fogg is an 

inventor living in 

Victorian England. He 

believes he can travel 

around the world in 

80 days. Another 

inventor challenges 

him to make the trip, 

and Phileas agrees. 

Accompanying Phileas 

on his journey are 

his manservant 

Passepartout and 

Monique, a beautiful 

navigator. Utilizing a 

variety of transportation 

means and Passepartout's 

martial arts skills, the 

trio embarks on a globe-

spanning adventure.

Cast

Steve Coogan - Phileas Fogg

Jackie Chan - Passepartout/Lau Xing

Cécile de France - Monique Laroche
Robert Fyfe - Jean Michel

Jim Broadbent - Lord Kelvin
Ian McNeice - Colonel Kitchener
David Ryall - Lord Salisbury
Roger Hammond - Lord Rhodes
Adam Godley - Mr. Sutton
Karen Mok - General Fang
Ewen Bremmer - Inspector Fix
Arnold Schwarzenegger - Prince Hapi (Cameo)
Yin Tze Pan -  Lau Xing's Mother
Yotaka Cheukaew - Little Jing
Sammo Kam-Bo Hung - Wong Fei Hung
Prasit Wongrakthai - Man Ting
Daniel Wu - Bak Mei
Rob Schneider - San Francisco Hobo (Cameo)
Luke Wilson - Orville Wright (Cameo)

Owen Wilson - Wilbur Wright (Cameo)
Mark Addy - Steamer Captain (Cameo)

John Cleese - Grizzled Solider (Cameo)
Will Forte - Young Bobby (Cameo)
Kathy Bates - Queen Victoria (Cameo)

 
Crew

Director - Frank Coraci

Based on Novel "Around the World in Eighty Days" - Jules Verne

Screenplay - David N. Titcher, David Benullo and David Andrew Goldstein
Executive Producers - Willie Chan, Solon So, Alex & Alexandra Schwartz and Phyllis Alia
Co-Executive Producers - Jeff Goeffray and Walter Josten
Producers - Hal Lieberman and Bill Badalato
Co-Producers - Henning Molfenter and Thierry Potok
Production Designer - Perry Andelin Blake
Supervising Art Director - Gary Freeman
Costume Designer - Anna Sheppard
Director of Photography - Phil Meheux
Second Unit Director - Harvey Harrison
Stunt Coordinator - Rick Forsayeth
Stunt/Action Coordinator: Jackie Chan - Chung Chi Li
Special Effects Supervisors - Gerd Nefzer and Kit West
Special Effects Supervisor: Second Unit -
John Evans

Visual Effects Supervisor - Jessica Norman
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Derek Spears
Visual Effects Producers - Louise Hussey
and Susan Zwerman
Digital Effects Supervisors - Simon Haslett
and Jonathan Privet
Digital Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues -
Bud Myrick
Film Editor - Tom Lewis
Music - Trevor Jones

Review

Over the years there have been several movie adaptations that were based around Jules Verne's classical novel 'AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS'. When it comes to the book, you could either revisit the notable 1956 classic or explore the loose modern interpretation with martial arts superstar Jackie Chan. Some consider this version to be an unfaithful translation of the original storyline. This interpretation is not improved by the participation of Chan and Happy Madison director Frank Coraci. The experimentation with the action and comedy in a globetrotting adventure set in the 19th century were not in the original novel. The humour is necessary for this 2004 flop, but the changes throughout the entire story are a quick turn-off to those that were Vernians. The character of Passepartout was rewritten from a Frenchman into an Asian which explains how he is idly portrayed by Chan in the movie.

The Chinese action star at the time was making a poor string of a few heavily CGI-laden movies that were released between his successful 'Rush Hour' and 'Shanghai Noon' series. There is no excuse for Jackie Chan being in the movie. He is a full-time stunt expert and comic genius that oftentimes felt out of place in this film that killed all the other planned adaptations. Steve Coogan does a good impression in portraying the well-mannered and quirky inventor Phileas Fogg, but he winds up playing the foil to Chan's character rather than the main hero of the story as it was intended. There were many cameos in the movie from other stars from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Will Forte in his debut.

Overall, while this adaptation was forgettable at best, it could have been a lot worse. This movie is not for Vernians, is it barely based on the source material. If you aren't a Vernian, you may actually find the feature more enjoyable.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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