The Bon Vivant of Brooklyn

Weeks and weeks into this Summer of Disappointing Movies, we have finally unearthed a decent gem of a film.  This is the one you take a date to; especially if your significant other wears an ankh or has a Death (the D.C. comic character) tattoo somewhere or owns all the Sandman graphic novels.  Paramount Pictures has graciously brought the fairy tale back to the screen, with a quality not seen since The Princess Bride.  Forget Narnia, Terabithia, and Hogwart's - it's all about Stormhold and the fallen star.

Like all good fairy tales, this story has a bit of everything:  eternal love, dark deeds, merciless witches, wicked royalty, inescapable destiny, and a happily ever after.  The best news is that at no point does it descend into platitudes or condescension; it simply is what it is, a fable about love and adventure.  There are many inventive little twists which are no doubt the product of acclaimed writer Neil Gaiman (who has always had a knack for telling old stories in a new way) - but having not read the graphic novel or paperback novelization, I can't say for sure how well the movie was adapted from its original forms.  I rather think that it doesn't matter a whit, as the movie is a joyful romp filled with great dialogue, fun action, and light humor.

It will be an excellent movie for kids, if parents don't overly worry about a couple of very mildly violent scenes - any injury is practically cartoon level mayhem, and "real" blood and gore is never even visibly spilled.  Honestly, any Harry Potter movie is quite a bit scarier than this flick, and it emphasizes the importance of true love above all things.  Its light-hearted tone, brave heroics, bad-guy-comeuppance, and comic relief make it perfect for younger audiences.

The only drawbacks are the mediocre performances of Claire Danes and Charlie Cox.  Charlie is a bit too dweeby and wooden, though he almost accidentally turns into Orlando Bloom towards the end of the film.  All of which fits the character to a T, yet, like good Chinese food, he still somehow leaves you feeling a bit empty a short while after consumption.  Claire just plain needed to lose the fake British accent, or get a better voice coach.  It unfortunately tainted her earnest words with cheesiness, making an unintended self-mockery of her character.

Michelle Pfeiffer is in rare form as a villainous witch who continuously undoes her plans by way of her own vanity and laziness, wasting her finite magical power in pursuit of the additional power the fallen star can give her.  She is every bit Maleficient and wicked stepmother, leering at herself in mirrors and haughtily punishing anyone who stands in her way.  Robert De Niro also shines as an air pirate with secret ambitions, and Ricky Gervais has an all too brief comedic cameo.

Most surprising of all is that this great fare comes from Matthew Vaughn, he who brought us Layer Cake (director and producer), Snatch, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (producer on both).  Fairy Tale is quite a bit of a departure from the hyperkinetic crime genre, but perhaps in another sense they're more closely related than one would think.

Go see this flick!  Give Neil Gaiman your money, and tell Paramount to keep making more like this one!