Music Composed by Trevor Jones
Rating: ***

Come and gone in the blink of an eye this past summer, Around The World in 80 Days will go down as one of 2004’s biggest misfires. Even if the film looked like a mega-turd un-spooling at 24 frames-per-second, the possibilities of a Trevor Jones score for a globe-trotting, period adventure seemed endless - not to mention exciting. At the time of the Around The World in 80 Days release, a lot had been made about the surprise celebrity cameos, but the real shocker here is all the surprise film music cameos. While it’s counter-productive to simply bash a soundtrack album and point out it’s more obvious derivative moments, let’s look at some of the more ballsy inferences: Atlantis (”Exactly Like My Dream”), Pirates of The Caribbean (”Prince Hapi Escape”), Maverick (”Lost In America”), Hulk (again, “Prince Hapi Escape”, yikes!!)… My compliments to the chef of 80’s boiled, smorgasbord temp-track of recent film scores. What’s most frustrating is that Trevor Jones has been delivering the score-ceries in a big way these past few years. Highlights like Dark City, Desperate Measures, Merlin, The Mighty and most recently, LXG seem like fading tail lights in the distance when you listen to 80 Days. Sure it’s all put together well — but the experience deflates faster than a shark-bitten air mattress. It’s never a good sign when the David Bowie-vocals-esque title tune “Everybody (All Over The World)”, performed by Dave Stewart, makes the most impression. With it’s maddeningly catchy chorus, performed by a bus load of kids, “Everybody” burrows into your brain like a white-hot corkscrew. You’ll want to scream “turn it off!”, but instead you’ll likely hit “repeat”.

Trevor Jones

Now that I’m done crushing this score under the heel of my boot, there are in fact some worthwhile moments to point out. First off, this is a traditionally large, globe-trotting orchestral romp that is in fact fun to listen to (provided you’re suffering from amnesia). The “Around The World Overture” showcases most of the more blustery moments, stating the score’s fine, if generic main theme. “Jetpack Journey” progresses into some familiar Jones-ian percussion and brass runs. Regional flavor is mixed into “Rendevouz in Paris” (a disc highlight), “Agra To China” and “Return of The Jade Buddha”. The rollicking percussion in “Rendevouz in Paris” is intermingled with whimsical accordian. This is fairly goofy stuff, but it’s got momentum and is musically interesting — though it’ll prove you’re a massive nerd if you’re caught listening to it in traffic.

The score breathes a bit in terms of scope in the charging “The Balloon Chase”, with “1st Class Waltz” adding a much needed statement of the score’s main theme, this time in a slow-turning waltz. With so many disparate elements at work here, checking in with the main ideas of the score every once and awhile helps. Jones revisits his theme, this time in Asian guise, in “Return of The Jade Buddha”. Randy Newman might have a few choice words if he ever hears “Lost In America”. The disc concludes with it’s major highlight, “Exactly Like My Dream”, a face to the pavement action cue that segues nicely into a bold choral/orchestral send-off, quickly washing away any bad thoughts you might have had of the fifty plus minutes of material that has passed before it.

I’m recommending Around The World In 80 Days purely because I’m taken by it’s exuberance. There hasn’t been a score this summer with this much brainless enthusiasm. I just wish I hadn’t heard it all before. (Originally posted August 14, 2004).

Music Composed and Produced by Trevor Jones; Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra; Conducted by Geoffrey Alexander; Orchestrated by Geoffrey Alexander, Trevor Jones, Mike Townend, David Butterworth, Julian Kershaw and Guy de Villiers; Recorded and Mixed by Simon Rhodes; Availability: In print; Label (Catalogue): Walt Disney Records, (61103-7); Release Date: June 15, 2004

01. Everybody All Over the World (Join the Celebration) (3′13)
Performed by David A Stewart and the
Sylvia Young Theatre School Choir
02. River of Dreams - Performed by Tina Sugandh (3′30)
03. It’s a Small World - Performed by Baha Men (2′44)
04. Around the World Overture (5′18)
05. Jetpack Journey (2′17)
06. The Wager (5′01)
07. Rendezvous in Paris (3′49)
08. The Balloon Chase (4′47)
09. 1st Class Waltz (2′06)
10. Prince Hapi Escape (3′08)
11. Agra to China (6′41)
12. Return of the Jade Buddha (3′38)
13. Lost in America (5′09)
14. Dismantling Carmen (1′44)
15. “Exactly Like My Dream” (4′45)

Total Playing Time: 57′56