Young actors Josh Hutcherson, 12 and Jonah Bobo, 8, had the time of their lives as brothers who play a magical game that launches them and their house into space in the action adventure sci-fi film Zathura based upon the short illustrated book by Chris Van Allsburg who wrote "The Polar Express" and "Jumanji".

Josh (left) and Jonah in Zathura Credit: Sony Pictures

Josh (or his digital counterpart) played the character of "hero boy" in The Polar Express with Tom Hanks. He'll be Robin Williams' son in the comedy RV in 2006 and co-starred in Kicking & Screaming with Will Ferrell. Young Jonah has appeared in Around the Bend with Michael Caine and in several films appearing at the Sundance Film Festival. He's also the voice of Austin on the Nick series "Backyardigans" and will be a voice in "The Fox and the Hound Two".

When we talked with the duo recently in Beverly Hills, we found the two guys to be a comic riot and way beyond their years in smarts. They could do a routine at a club. Josh, in Abercrombie t-shirt and Jonah, in space theme tee, told us about the fun of fighting on-set monsters and pulling pranks and how they both navigate the shark-infested waters of family life and Hollywood hype. At one point during the interview, Jonah's mom stepped forward to open his water bottle for him and got a frowny "Hey, I can do it Mom!".