*** - This family-oriented 2010 film starring Nicholas Cage and the skinny guy who has made a name for himself as the funny nerd-type guy in various TV shows and films (often also starring Seth Rogen) ended up being a little bit more entertaining than I had anticipated. While it has the same basic feel and premise as the ‘Harry Potter’ films and others of that ilk, it is probably a step up from them as it has a fair amount of humor that is delivered surprisingly well by Cage and the other leads. The magic effects are quite well done and integrate solidly into the real elements of the movie, unlike some others in the genre, such as those ridiculous broom flying game sequences from ‘Harry Potter’ which are some of the fakest looking deals you’ll find in modern cinema. The main story line is about as unoriginal as they get, and the whole trapped-in-an-urn-for-ten-years idea that is prevalent here is both clichéd and silly. However, that is counterbalanced by the fairly frequent skewering of some of the more rote and hackneyed standards of the genre, which not only evens things out but also provides some genuine laughs. I can’t say that I’d have any interest in watching this again, but I’ve certainly spent two hours watching much worse than “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”.
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