The central idea of this movie is promising: a new-teen-on-the-block inadvertently unlocks the enchanted books of his neighbor, best-selling kid-horror author R.L. Stein, transforming the monsters of the Goosebumps books into physical reality and endangering the local populace as a result. It could have been a good movie. But if it hadn’t been for the trademark energy and intensity that actor Jack Black brings to the role of R.L. Stein, I would have given this movie 20% less in my rating. As it is, it’s just watchable. Why? Because nothing bad really happens to anyone. That’s contrary to the idea of a horror movie, even for kids. Real-life author Stein knew that in order for there to be any sense of dread, a few people at least had to end up in a bad way, which is what happened in his books and the TV series based on them. I remember the very first Goosebumps TV episode, the story of a girl who found a freaky mask and decided to use it to scare the daylights out of her friends. Know what happened to her? She couldn’t take off the mask, and she had to wear it FOREVER. Think anything like that happens in this big-budget movie called “Goosebumps”? Nope, not even remotely. The moviemakers eviscerated the traditions of Goosebumps and made them friendly for your little toddler. I suggest you view the only two scenes that are really good: Stein’s hilarious reaction to being compared with author Stephen King (starts around 38:41) and the home invasion by garden gnomes (45:18). Skip the rest, or relax and chill watching harmless monsters galore.

Extra:

• The man himself, the real R.L. Stein, walks across the screen in a quick cameo near the end of the movie as drama teacher Mr. Black.