Review: Jack the Giant Slayer

Despite being 23, Hoult has had already had a 20 year acting career – from aged three to his most famous role opposite Hugh Grant in About A Boy, and moving into more off beat territory playing in the original cast of E4’s notorious Skins. This role perhaps confirms his transition from child star to young leading man.

Jack (Hoult) goes to sell his horse at market to help save his uncle’s farm. While there he finds himself defending the honour of the young Princess (Eleanor Tomlinson), followed by a chance encounter with a monk who pays him with magic beans for his horse.

Jack’s uncle throws one of the beans away in disgust at what he thinks is a con. Meanwhile the Princess escapes the castle looking for adventure and seeks shelter at Jack’s house.

Overnight the bean erupts into a giant beanstalk, taking the house and the Princess into the sky, while Jack is thrown to the ground. He volunteers to join the rescue party, and they ascend to a land of bloodthirsty giants. Among their party is the villainous Roderick (Stanley Tucci), who has plans to subjugate the giants with a magic crown and use them to take over the world below.

While there is plenty to enjoy about the film, Jack falls a bit flat in the end. The plot is very thin, dialogue ropey and all the attention seems to have gone on creating the giants – who do look fantastic.

The performances are not particularly thrilling, with Hoult somewhat underwhelming and the supporting cast confined to cartoonish caricatures, Ewan Macgregor being particularly guilty on that front.

It’s a jolly romp of a film which could have done with a bit more story to it, but which doesn’t quite live up to the expectations of its trailer and publicity.

6/10

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