Stardust (2007)

Rating: 5/10 (18 February 2020)

Directed by Matthew Vaughn. Starring Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Sienna Miller, Mark Strong, Kate Magowan, Jason Flemyng, Joanna Scanlan, Sarah Alexander, Peter O'Toole, Nathaniel Parker, Melanie Hill, David Kelly, Henry Cavill, Rupert Everett, Ricky Gervais, (voice) Ian McKellen. (PG-13)
Adaptation of Neil Gaiman's fantasy book about an impressionable young man (Cox) who crosses the barrier between the real world (England) and a magical land (Stormhold) to fetch a fallen star for the shallow woman he adores (Miller); that star happens to be a human-like entity in the form of Danes, and ancient witch Pfeiffer has designs on her as well, to say nothing for the scheming princes who want the gem that Danes carries and an effete sky pirate (De Niro) that captures lightning from storms. Busy and convoluted (without the interest to make it justifiable), stuffed full of skewed humor, forced whimsy, magic spells and charms, special effects, fairy tale romance, high adventure, and more...but director Vaughn lacks the light touch needed to make it work. Pfeiffer is zesty fun, Strong puts the faintest spin on his customary glowering technique, Cox and Danes are lackluster even when one of them glows with starlight, De Niro's vamping is less entertaining than simply surreal (and absent full commitment). Lots of color but limited delight. It is refreshing, however, to find a big-budget fantasy movie this century that doesn't feature a massive battle waged between CGI armies.
52/100