Movie Review: “The House With a Clock in Its Walls” an uneven but fun throwback to Amblin ’80s movies

Movie Review: “The House With a Clock in Its Walls” (PG)

“The House With a Clock in Its Walls” is a throwback to those glorious (and magical) Amblin films of the ’80s. No surprise there, given that this is in fact an Amblin production; therefore, that ’80s vibe is by design. What is surprising, though, is that shockmeister Eli Roth was brought in to direct this thing. The man behind “Cabin Fever” and “Hostel” might seem like an odd choice to helm a film geared towards a more family-oriented audience. But in the end, Roth does a pretty good job.

In “The House With a Clock in Its Walls,” young Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) moves in with his eccentric uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) after an unforeseen tragedy strikes. It isn’t long before the two begin to bond famously. But shortly thereafter, the realization that Jonathan is actually a warlock (layman translation: a male witch) opens Lewis’s eyes to a world he never new existed: a world filled with magic, otherworldly beasts, and inanimate objects come to life. That said, wherever there is magic, there is often evil not far behind. And in this picture, said evil appears in the form of Isaac Izard (Kye MacLachlan), a warlock gone bad and raised from the dead.

In addition to a handful of notable Amblin efforts of the ’80s (“Gremlins,” “Batteries Not Included,” “Young Sherlock Holmes,” etc.), there are also shades of “Monster House,” “Harry Potter,” “The Gate,” “Monster Squad,” Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories,” and even “The Witches of Eastwick” here, and admittedly, it’s interesting to see a guy like Roth, who also gives himself an amusing little cameo in the film, playing in a sandbox of this nature. He’s not only given a bigger budget to work with, as is more than evident by way of wonderful visuals and stunning art direction, but he’s also asked to freak out an entirely different demographic. The end result is an uneven but well intended movie that plays a little like Tim Burton-light. From its roster of social misfit characters to its central bigger-than-life gothy locale to its lively Danny Elfman-esque score (beautifully composed by Nathan Barr), there’s no doubt that Roth is a Burton fan.

And as is generally the case with Burton, Roth doesn’t pander here. While this is far removed from the likes of “Hostel,” Roth is more than aware that some kids enjoy a good scare (after all, he too, was a kid once), so he does his best to bring the creep-out factor without crossing lines he usually has no problem crossing. That said, while this picture has earned a PG rating from that inconsistent entity that is the MPAA, it should be noted that a PG-13 rating probably would have been more appropriate. A couple of sequences involving a decaying Isaac and a few scenes involving children’s playthings come to life might be a little too frightening for the under-10 crowd. Granted, it should be noted that I loved seeing such disturbing cinematic images when I was a youngster, so perhaps my assessment is a tad off base. I suppose it simply depends on the child. For what it’s worth, “The House With a Clock in Its Walls” certainly gave my kids the willies, but not to the point that they had nightmares.

As far as the cast goes, Jack Black is lovable and engaging as Jonathan Barnavelt while Cate Blanchett lends a touch of class to the proceedings as Florence Zimmerman, a witch with a fondness for bickering with her magical colleague. Both Jonathan and Florence have pasts that inform who they ultimately become, and it doesn’t take a wizard to figure out that they will eventually confront that past.

Owen Vaccaro is terrific as a lost, picked-on boy who just wants to find a place where he belongs. This lively young actor brings an innocence and a sense of wonderment to the role of Lewis, but he also offers up moments of real dramatic depth. He also manages to hold his own against the manic bundle of energy that is Jack Black.

Rounding out the cast is Kyle MacLachlan as antagonist Isaac Izard. MacLachalan, an actor who cut his teeth in David Lynch movies early in his career (see “Blue Velvet” and “Dune”), appears to be having a ton of fun as the film’s heavy, particularly in the final act when he truly gets to wreak some havoc. But truth be told, I wanted a little bit more from him.

“The House With a Clock in Its Walls” succeeds in capturing a bit of that ’80s magic, but it doesn’t always sustain it. Following a solid opening 30 minutes, the film lulls a bit in the midsection before redeeming itself with a worthwhile climax that includes dueling warlocks and, among other creepy things, an infant with Jack Black’s head. The movie as a whole isn’t a masterwork, and it certainly could have done without the poop jokes, but for my money, it succeeds where that tepid (and all too safe) Jack Black-headlined “Goosebumps” adaptation faltered.

“The House With a Clock in Its Walls” is worthy of seeing in Imax during its first week of release, because you get Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as an added bonus! Trust me when I tell you that you haven’t seen this John Landis-directed gem until you’ve seen it in glorious Imax 3D! Word to the wise, though: “Thriller” probably will give your kids nightmares!

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