Perennial Favorite

Rating: 10/10 (6 September 2018)

This movie is a lovely cross-section of whimsical and heartfelt. Keeping to the classic hero's journey to discover himself, complete an external quest, and win the girl, this movie is a clear-cut example of a tried and true romantic adventure. Young Tristan sets out to retrieve a fallen star for his unrequited love, only to find that the star is a no-nonsense spitfire of a girl, whom he must team up with to save the kingdom from the clutches of Prince Septimus and the evil witches who seek to kill and consume the star, Yvaine, in an effort to regain their youth. The friendship of the protagonists evolves in an engaging and playful manner, and while contains no revolutionary or surprising twists or turns, hits the classic marks with ease and style. Upon basic inspection, the plot plays out exactly as one would expect given a basic knowledge of narrative structure, but the actors and dialogue carry the viewer through the plot points in an enjoyably predictable pattern: comfortable and familiar as opposed to boring and worn out. Charlie Cox (Tristan) and Robert De Niro (Captain Shakespeare) provide comic relief studded throughout the drama and romance, and Matthew Vaughn (director) delivered his usual brand of entertaining, if not intellectually stimulating, mid-grade blockbusters.