(PG) Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina
A German poem about a sorcerer’s apprentice, who cuts corners and magically animates a mop to do all his dirty work, inspired the classic short in Fantasia starring Mickey Mouse; which in turn has inspired Michael Bay and Nicolas Cage to produce a live action version of the classic story.
Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina).
Balthazar can’t do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé.
The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic and, together, these unlikely partners pit their powers against those of the fiercest — and most ruthless — villains of all time.
It’ll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”.
While entertaining enough, the film lacks the “magic” it needs to really make it leap off the screen and make you care about the characters and situations.
After a prologue about ancient curses and evil magicians, the rest of the film is unable to maintain interest.
Cage lacks charisma in his role as Blake and Baruchel’s pratfalls, designed for comic relief, instead become tiresome. The scene which mimics the classic Fantasia sequence seems tacked on.
Not quite the magical experience it could have been.
Adrian Drayton
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