Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Adventure sequel is clunky but has positive role models.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 29 parent reviews
Parents say the movie offers a mix of adventure and humor that children enjoy, making it an entertaining watch for families. However, many express concern over the portrayal of female characters, particularly regarding objectification and inappropriate wardrobe choices, which detracts from its family-friendly intent.
- adventure appeal
- objectification concerns
- family-friendly humor
- inappropriate content
- positive messages
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 58 kid reviews
What's the Story?
After surviving his Journey to the Center of the Earth, Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) is back living with his mom (Kristin Davis) and step-dad, Hank (Dwayne Johnson). Sean gets a coded message from his grandfather about the location of Jules Verne's famed "Mysterious Island." Hoping for some much-needed bonding time, Hank volunteers to go with him. In Palau, they hire a ramshackle helicopter, piloted by Gabato (Luis Guzman). Happily for Sean, Gabato's pretty daughter, Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens), comes with the deal. After crashing on the island, the explorers discover a world of tiny elephants, huge bees, and lost cities. But they also realize that they must find Sean's grandfather -- and discover a way off the island before time runs out.
Is It Any Good?
From the director of Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND is as clumsy and clunky as its title. The pace is speedy, but it seems as though the movie sacrificed logic, character, mood, and rhythm to achieve that speed. Moreover, the visual effects appear soft and never quite mesh with the real stuff. Even the 3D effects don't really add anything except for the occasional "comin' at ya" moment.
On the plus side, the movie has an inviting, warm, open-air feel, and it's more innocuous than it is obnoxious. Strong, positive characters -- including a young woman who can take care of herself -- and family bonding moments are also very appealing. Not to mention that this is the only movie in which you can see former pro wrestler Dwayne Johnson (a.k.a. "The Rock") playing the ukulele and singing "What a Wonderful World."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Journey 2's violence and scary stuff. How does its fantasy nature affect its impact? How do the movie's intense experiences affect Sean and his step-dad's relationship?
How does the movie portray families? How does that message/depiction compare to what you've seen in other movies and TV shows?
How does the movie portray fathers? There's a theme of "missing dads," but there are also great dad characters here. What's the take-away?
The first Journey movie was an adaptation of a Jules Verne novel; this movie's title also cites a Verne book but isn't a direct adaptation. What other books does it remind you of? Are there any you'd like to read after watching the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 10, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : June 5, 2012
- Cast : Dwayne The Rock Johnson , Josh Hutcherson , Vanessa Hudgens
- Director : Brad Peyton
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : New Line
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some adventure action, and brief mild language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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