Goosebumps - 5Star

(Image credit: Hopper Stone, SMPSP)

Jack Black stars in this goofy romp based on author RL Stine's creepy children's tales

Jack Black stars in this goofy romp based on author RL Stine's creepy children's tales.

Following a slow start, the fun begins when teenager Zach (Dylan Minnette) discovers that his cranky neighbour Mr Shivers (Black) is actually Stine and accidentally unleashes a host of real monsters locked inside his manuscripts.

This gives the film's FX team a chance to really let rip as Stine's creations - including the Abominable Snowman of Pasadena, the Werewolf of Fever Swamp, Slappy the malevolent ventriloquist's dummy and a bunch of vicious garden gnomes - go on the rampage.

Amid the mayhem, the cast gets into its stride, too, with Ryan Lee, as Zach's scaredy-cat pal, and Black providing the biggest laughs.