The creative team behind the National Treasure films gives their take on fantasy in a film that seems to have fallen between the cracks of the summer’s biggest releases. Nicholas Cage plays Balthazar, a former apprentice of Merlin who must train a normal guy to become a powerful sorcerer and defeat two powerful villains. Jay Baruchel plays the normal/ geeky guy, Dave, who is forced to play a part in this centuries old struggle the world never knew existed.
With Baruchel and Cage as the two leads it’s hardly difficult to predict the types of performances these actors will give you. Baruchel has become a pro at the likeable geek persona and Cage is, well he’s Nicholas Cage. If you’re not familiar with his style see any one of his films and he’ll be acting similar. The addition of Alfred Molina as Horvath, Balthazar’s archenemy, brings the quality of performance up a bit. Now don’t get me wrong, Baruchel and Cage are good, but predictable.
The story is also a tad on the predictable side, but it is well done. The film is not as complex as a Harry Potter type fantasy but as it’s based on the Fantasia cartoon it doesn’t have any kind of commitment to an epic novel with boatloads of detail-obsessed fans. This allows the story to flow well and build as a fun film that could end with this venture or continue on in a sequel if Disney sees fit.
My main gripe comes with the stuffy dialogue between Dave and his love interest, Becky, played by Teresa Palmer. Being a recent college graduate, whenever a film portrays my age group as a stereotypical archetype it bothers me. Becky is a sort of artsy, music obsessed character who at one point claims that her college radio show is the only thing she enjoys in her life. Dave on the other hand gives a similar impression with science. It was just overly dramatic. Both characters have friends in the film. The audience sees them. So, they’re not as lonely as everyone is supposed to think.
Otherwise, the film is very easy to watch with lots of laughs and an exciting story. It’s your typical Disney movie. Though the most important question of course is, will it make your typical Disney movie money? (7.9 out of 10)
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