Josh Hutcherson and Jonah Bobo star in "Zathura: A Space Adventure." Click photo for larger image. "Zathura" Rating: PG for fantasy- action peril and some language. Starring: Tim Robbins, Jonah Bobo, Josh Hutcherson. Director: Jon Favreau. "Zathura: A Space Adventure" Web site Related article

Two years ago, Jon Favreau directed "Elf." A year ago, Chris Van Allsburg's beloved Christmas story, "The Polar Express," was turned into a film starring Tom Hanks.

Now, Favreau directs a big-screen adaptation of Van Allsburg's "Zathura," and it's no "Elf." Or "Polar Express."

It takes the bones of the 32-page book written and illustrated by Van Allsburg (whose "Jumanji" was turned into a 1995 film) and packs enough meaty adventure around them to make a PG-rated movie, "Zathura: A Space Adventure."

It is a serviceable family film, but not a particularly memorable one. However, if you have squabbling children -- especially boys -- at home, it may provide a blueprint on why it's important to get along and play well with others. As a wise character advises, "Don't be so quick to sell out your brother, kid. He's all you've got."

"Zathura" opens with a divorced father (Tim Robbins) trying to appease his quarrelsome sons, 10-year-old Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and 6-year-old Danny (Jonah Bobo). They fight over who gets to play catch, what to watch on TV and how to amuse themselves when their dad tries to work and then has to run to the office.

Josh Hutcherson, left, and Dax Shepard star in "Zathura: A Space Adventure." Click photo for larger image.

"There are some days, boys, when you gotta grow up all at once. I need today to be one of those days," Dad says. Little does he know.

When Danny finds a board game in the basement called Zathura, Walter is dismissive, saying it looks "dumb and old ... for babies." But once the boys start playing, they find the game is coming to life. When a card

announces "Meteor shower, take evasive action," it means it. The house -- where an older sister (Kristen Stewart) is sleeping upstairs -- is launched into outer space and hit by real meteors.

And so it goes, with all manner of dangers or surprises inside and outside: defective robots, snarly, lizard-like aliens called Zorgons, a stranded astronaut (Dax Shepard), fireballs, gravitational pulls and a black hole.

The special effects are a mixed bag, with some betraying their computer-generated beginnings. Robots and aliens are commonplace in movies today, and these are nothing special, but a character getting flash-frozen is a nicely executed novelty. A twist meant to deliver an extra-strength message is unnecessary and, in a way, nonsensical.

The actual board game is quite nifty, with old-fashioned sounds, gimmicks and materials. The pint-size stars have the brotherly bickering and name-calling down pat, and Stewart ("Undertow," "Panic Room") actually reminded me of a young Alicia Silverstone. Still, in the end, "Zathura" feels like a placeholder; it's occupying the family slot until other holiday movies crash-land in theaters.