After their father is called into work, two young boys, Walter and Danny, are left in the care of their teenage sister, Lisa, and told they must stay inside. Walter and Danny, who anticipate a boring day, are shocked when they begin playing Zathura, a space-themed board game, which they realize has mystical powers when their house is shot into space. With the help of an astronaut, the boys attempt to return home.
Zathura salutes the low-tech magic that lurks inside a board game -- that hidden ability to bring people together.
– Desson Thomson,
Washington Post,
11 Nov 2005
fresh:
Zathura, Jon Favreau's adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's kid-lit adventure of the same name, more than fills the bill -- though it's unlikely to draw anyone over the age of 11 (not counting baby-sitters).
– Elizabeth Weitzman,
New York Daily News,
11 Nov 2005
fresh:
A smart and funny kids' movie that will also keep parents entertained.
– Richard Roeper,
Ebert & Roeper,
14 Nov 2005
rotten:
The only way to win is just to keep playing until it's over, and the only way to leave the theater is to hover over these kids' shoulders until they finally wrap things up. In both cases, there are more entertaining ways to spend an afternoon.
– Scott Tobias,
AV Club,
6 Dec 2005
fresh:
Favreau gratifyingly prevents the film from becoming a mere maelstrom of CG effects by pushing the brothers' amusing bickering to the fore...