This really is the season of Michelle Pfeiffer. She, together with a cast of bright stars, bring to life Neil Gainman's best selling novel “Stardust”.
It is a fairytale love story in the tradition of “The Princess Bride” and an action fantasy adventure trying to capture the success of “The Lord of the Rings”.
In the magical kingdom of Stormhold, a star falls to earth and transforms into a beautiful girl. Witnessing it fall from the sky, a lovelorn country boy promises the petulant village beauty to bring her the prize. To do so, he must cross the old stone wall that separates his ordinary village from Stormhold.
Tristan is not alone on this quest - everyone from evil princes to wicked witches want to get their hands on the fallen star… and so begins a very busy 2 hours in the cinema.
Director Matthew Vaughn relies heavily on CGI and his famous cast to conjure up the magic and the entertainment. There is pace and energy and the film is enchanting, however I felt it was just too overcrowded with characters and storylines.
By the time Robert De Niro entered the scene, I wasn't really sure where I was - and judging by De Niro's performance, neither was he.
The backbone of this film should have been the love story between Tristan and Yvaine, but Michelle Pfeiffer is just so good as the evil witch desperate to regain her youthful beauty, that her plight strangely becomes the film's core.
I think in part, this is due to the unfortunate miscasting of Claire Danes as the fallen star. She just seemed too old and pissed off to be an engaging heroine.
However, Charlie Cox is wonderful in the lead and Ricky Gervais is terrific in a scene stealing cameo.
Even though the script doesn't reach the comic genius of “The Princess Bride”, it is visually stunning and for the most part, an enjoyable adventure.
Stardust is one for the whole family but “The Lord of the Rings” it 'aint. 3 stars.
