Fun-loving Lemuel Gulliver (Jack Black) works in the mailroom at a New York newspaper, where he has a secret crush on travel editor Darcy Silverman (Amanda Peet). After five years, Gulliver finally plans to reveal his feelings, but instead ends up feigning an interest in journalism, earning him a writing trip to the Bermuda Triangle.
While out at sea, Gulliver hits a storm and is sucked into the heart of the Triangle. He awakes to find himself on the island of Liliput, where he towers over the miniscule residents. 'Giant' Gulliver is captured by mean-spirited General Edward (Chris O'Dowd) and sentenced to a life of hard labour, but when he saves the life of Edward's fiancée, Princess Mary (Emily Blunt), the islanders take him to their hearts.
Gulliver sets about recovering his ship and finding his way home, but can he help kind-hearted ex-prisoner Horatio (Segel) woo the princess away from Edward first?
Director Rob Letterman takes on his first live action feature with this modern take on Jonathan Swift's classic tale. Largely a showcase for Black's comic talents, Letterman's fun fantasy adventure gives the star ample chance to indulge his familiar larger-than-life (literally) persona.
With Britain seemingly synonymous with royalty, there's plenty of home-grown talent in Lilliput's own royal family, including Catherine Tate, Billy Connolly and James Corden. There are dodgy accents all over the shop, too, with American Segel and Irishman O'Dowd adopting plummy English twangs. The film never really suffers, though, as it doesn't take itself too seriously, and game performances and a keen sense of fun should entertain younger viewers.
Gulliver's Travels is a Film programme that first aired in 2010 and has been classified a PG certificate.
