Great fun and romance

Rating: 8/10 (3 November 2007)

This was an unexpected pleasure. My lady is a big Gaiman fan and a big films-like-this fan, so the fact that we'd be going to see it was a no-brainer. The fact that it might just turn out to be thoroughly enjoyable did not occur to me. So, let's look at the bits: the direction was spot-on, dealing with the soppy and romantic bits with enough comedic or dramatic flair that, though never cynical, they were carried off with the right amount of tongue-in-cheek. The action delivered and the comedy was funny in the right bits. The weakest point of the cast was probably Claire Danes, and even she was engaging, believable and amusing. Pfeiffer's panto dame witch was a hoot, and De Nirowell, watch and learn. And laugh. Genius.
Overall, the film had, for me, no weak bits. Well written, cast, acted and shot. Well edited. Wellwell, well everything. Never a work of art, and never a "film of the year" contender, but the sort of enjoyable, entertaining and classy film that you wish happened more often than it actually does. They make it look easy but, like a falling star, things this fun are not that commonplace.