– by Mark Glass –
How could this film NOT have been better? Jack Black and Cate Blanchett star as a nice warlock and witch, respectively. Black suddenly becomes the guardian of a timid young nephew (Owen Vaccaro) whose parents died in an accident. Black lives in a delightfully creepy old house with tons of magical stuff, ranging from funny to scary. The cast and sets are first-rate; director Eli Roth is no slouch either; the film is based on a presumably popular novel. Despite all that cumulative pedigree, the film is tedious, and amazingly short on thrills or laughs.
Black would seem perfect for the role of the wacky uncle. This should have given his state-of-the-art eyebrows ample showcase moments for their estimable range. Only the young Jack Nicholson’s could compare. Blanchett would seemingly have far more scripts to choose from, offering juicier parts than this drab echo of more colorful representatives of her cinematic coven. The kid is good, but that’s hardly enough to carry the day.
Kudos to all involved in the CGI and visual aspects of the production, since they created a fine backdrop and several nice effects. But the scripted action before and around those elements falls short of all reasonable aspirations. The rating is suitable for the material. Most little ones won’t be too scared. More of them will be bored, making the rousing climax less exciting than it would have been with a more engaging path to the showdown.
