Donning 3D glasses and peering at Eric Brevig's version of Jules Verne's classic is rather like reading a précis of the book in extra large print. But you soon reckon this is one for the children as the visionary scientist (Brendan Fraser), his nephew (Josh Hutcherson) and their pretty local guide (Anita Briem) get trapped in a huge cave from which their only escape is to go deeper and deeper into the bowels of the earth. they meet man-eating plants, giant flying piranhas, glow birds and hungry dinosaurs after dropping down what looks like the proverbial black hole before arriving at the tip of a volcano somewhere in sicily. Brevig, an Academy award-winner for special effects, has a fine old time with all this. Unfortunately, however, he has more or less forgotten about a script.

It may be a wild ride, with copious moments when the film hits you between the eyes thanks to the 3D, but a little more characterisation might have added to the drama. It often appears more jolly than exciting.

Even when chased by a dinosaur, Fraser and Hutcherson seem about as terrified as they might crossing Oxford street on a bad traffic day. My bet is that the younger you are, the more you'll like it.