Entertaining time-filler

Rating: Null/10 (10 April 2008)

Hurled into the UK public's consciousness late in '07 largely on the basis of the Take That single over the end credits and Jonathan Ross's shameless plugging of wifey's script on his own chat show, Stardust is an enjoyable enough fantasy adventure aimed presumably at the early-teens, which you sense never quite manages to be as magical as it is trying to be.
Charlie Cox gets his big break here as Tristan Thorne, a likable young man who crosses the Wall to a mystical land to find a star that will prove his love for the fickle Victoria (Sienna Miller). Cox is amiable enough but is a little too bland or my liking to sustain a career as a leading man. Despite an eye-catching cameo from Robert de Niro as a cross-dressing sky pirate who likes nothing more than slapping on the make-up to dance the can-can when alone in his quarters, it's Michelle Pfeiffer, in her first role for some time, who steals the show as one of a trio of decrepit old witches who are also in pursuit of a star to rejuvenate themselves. This is largely because de Niro bungles his part, seemingly unable to manage the camp feyness he reveals to Tristan but which he conceals behind a bluff macho façade in front of his crew. Ricky Gervaise is also amusing, even though he's pretty much playing David Brent in a pointy hat.
The story is entertaining enough, even though it adds nothing new to the genre and bears a strong resemblance to Princess Bride at times. It's the kind of film that will probably delight the kids without boring their parents, even though some of its ideas seem underdeveloped. At times the editing leaves something to be desired with a couple of scenes ending too abruptly and emphasising more adroitly how important rhythm is to a film than any editing masterworks could ever do.
Watch it, though, and you'll be entertained even though you may well not bother recommending it to others.