Film Review with Robert Mann – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

14th August 2010

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice ****

The latest blockbuster to come out of the partnership between Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer finds its inspiration loosely in source material that is somewhat obscure, to today’s children at least. It’s not based on a theme park ride a la Pirates of the Caribbean or even a video game like Prince of Persia but rather one sequence from the Disney animated classic Fantasia and face it, it is unlikely many of today’s children will actually have seen it. The sequence in question, easily the most famous in that film, is the one featuring Mickey Mouse as a sorcerer and a load of mops performing a dance number (a sequence which is recreated in this film). Sadly, a lack of awareness among younger viewers of this source material has already contributed towards The Sorcerer’s Apprentice becoming a pretty big disaster at the US box office. The film, however, seems to have been cursed for some time with two completely difference car chase related accidents having occurred during filming – a bad omen for the film’s chances perhaps? Such superstition aside, however, the film’s credentials are pretty encouraging. While Nicolas Cage doesn’t always have the best taste in projects to appear in he is generally pretty good when it comes to popcorn blockbusters and here he has reunited with director Jon Turteltaub, whom he previously worked with on (his most commercially successful films to date) National Treasure and National Treasure: Book of Secrets, two films that showcased Cage at his performing best, even if his performances in them were hardly among his very best as an actor. Additionally, the film co-stars up and coming star Jay Baruchel as the eponymous Apprentice, even though this isn’t proving to be quite the breakout year that studios had expected for the young star, his previous film She’s Out of My League having turned out to be something of a non factor at the box office. The promising credentials have translated into a very good popcorn movie though.

Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina) and Veronica (Monica Bellucci) were once apprentices to the great sorcerer Merlin (James A. Stephens).When Horvath betrayed them to Merlin’s rival, the evil Morgana Le Fay (Alice Krige), Merlin just barely managed to trap them both, being killed in the process. Before he died Merlin made Balthazar promise to search for the one young sorcerer who will be capable of destroying Morgana once and for all and Balthazar spent the next hundred years on this very search until he encountered a young boy named Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel). Their first encounter doesn’t go so well as Dave accidentally unleashes Hovarth. Balthazar just about manages to trap him but finds himself trapped as well until ten years later when both are freed from their imprisonment. Dave is now a slightly neurotic but genius physics student who has tried to put that fateful encounter with Balthazar behind him but once again he crosses paths with the sorcerer and this time is enlisted as his somewhat reluctant apprentice. At the same time, Dave reencounters old crush Becky Barnes (Teresa Palmer) and the two form a connection. Suddenly, his whole world is changed forever as he falls in love and must learn to utilize the magic within him so that he can not only stop Hovarth but take on Morgana herself.

Anyone who has seen the National Treasure movies will know exactly what to expect from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – a film that may not be sophisticated or subtle but that delivers pretty much everything you could want from a popcorn movie and that is just a fun movie going experience. It boasts impressive visual effects that combine elements of magical wonder such as dragons, statues coming to life and mops doing a dance routine (a scene straight out of Fantasia and even set to the tune of the original music by Paul Dukas) with moments of scientific spectacle such as lightning bolts being emitted by a Tesla style electricity machine and creating music as they do so. It features action sequences that are both exhilarating and exciting including magical duels and car chases. It is packed full of very very funny humorous moments with both physical gags and one liners that are sure to make you laugh. And, perhaps most importantly of all, it features a series of thoroughly entertaining performances from its cast members. What we get here is Nicolas Cage the performer rather than Nicolas Cage the actor but while he is not quite a perfect fit for his role, his natural charisma makes it hard not to enjoy every minute of his terrific performance and his interactions with co-star Jay Baruchel are very amusing. Baruchel is a more spot-on fit for his role, being suitably neurotic and sharing a good chemistry with co-star Teresa Palmer, who herself is a decent romantic interest even if she is little more than that. Alfred Molina is a full on pantomime villain and an enjoyable one at that, even if his performance proves somewhat underwhelming when compared to other past roles and, despite her limited screen time, Alice Krige is a perfectly sinister villainess. The only weak link among the cast is Monica Bellucci, whose screen time is so limited as to render the casting of a major actress in the role almost pointless. The writing isn’t as wholly successful as some other aspects of the film, the plot occasionally being a tad incoherent and the dialogue sounding a bit too silly at times with its sorcerer lingo, but the story has enough heart and adventure to make you generally care what happens and the central characters are sufficiently developed so as to really make them more relatable and engaging. All in all, director Jon Turteltaub has done a very good job in translating the story to the big screen and making a film that is exciting, funny and magical. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a truly magical movie going experience and a piece of entertainment that is not to be missed. Nicolas Cage has said that he did this movie because he believes in magic and after seeing it you just might believe in magic too.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)

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