Jon Favreau’s 2005 space adventure, Zathura, is the ultimate sibling rivalry movie, trading jungle animals for meteors and Zorgons. Like Jumanji, this is also based on a book by Chris Van Allsburg, and the board game plunges its players – Danny and Walter, two bickering brothers – into a literal fight for survival when their house is rocketed into the depths of space.
While perhaps less grand than Jumanji, Zathura succeeds by focusing on the relationship between the brothers. Josh Hutcherson and Jonah Bobo sell the constant squabbling that forces them, along with an unexpectedly frozen Kristen Stewart, to finally cooperate.
The mix of fun practical effects and engaging sci-fi elements makes for a solid 7/10 family experience. It’s an imaginative and thrilling ride, provided the kids learn to share the dice!
