Review - Matt Mungle

 

 
The new film, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, based on a popular book series has a lot to offer. I am not saying it lives up to its full potential but only that it has a lot to offer. Vampires are a big hit these days thanks to book series like this and Twilight. Problem is that many times the transition from the page to the screen misses the mark. Ask any if the die hard Edward fans what they thought of that first Twilight flick if you doubt my theory. Not having read TVA for myself I wanted a good script, stunning imagery and imaginative characters. Eh, two out of three aint bad.
 
The story revolves around two teenage boys who sneak out one night to visit a traveling carnival freak show. Steve (Josh Hutcherson) is the troubled mischievous one and his best friend Darren (Chris Massoglia) the straight laced smart guy with good grades and the model family. While at the show they meet the vampire Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly). It is that meeting and subsequent events that lead them on separate paths into the dark underworld. There they discover an ongoing confrontation between the Vampires and the Vampaneze.
 
There are issues with this movie that you need to be made aware of. I do not tell you these things to keep you from seeing it but rather so that you can enjoy it more if you do see it. Be prepared; at times this film looks and feels more like an after school miniseries than a big screen feature. It gets all Nickelodeon on you but then tries to convince you it is a dark and twisted tale. The script is splotchy and seems to never find its footing. If anything it made me want to read the books to find out what was left on the cutting room floor. Or left out completely. The second problem I had was with the casting of Hutcherson as the troubled youth. I'm sorry but he just cant pull off the tough guy. When he swears and tries to act tough it is comical and unbelievable. Josh is a good actor but this was just not the right role. The rest of the cast is superb. Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek, Ken Wananabe, Orlando Jones and Patrick Fugit make for some fanciful freaks.
 
This story is intriguing regardless of how the script butchers it. The "Freaks" are all very unique and cleverly developed. They add plenty of color and fantasy to the film that I wanted to see more of. Director Paul Weitz does a decent job of balancing the story and moving the action along. I have to wonder how a script like this would be in the hands of a Tim Burton but for the most part Paul succeeds. He co-wrote the screenplay though and that is the shakiest part of the project. There are a good many tongue in cheek moments regarding the stereotypes surrounding vampires but they were tossed about haphazardly with no real grounding.
 
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, disturbing images, thematic elements and some language. That is a fair rating and even though it has the NickeloDisney moments it is a film for older audiences. The language alone is the main thing that parents will be concerned about. Though the expletives are mild they occur often. Add that to the theme of freaks, vampires and the antics they are known for and you have a movie best suited for the 13 and up crowd. Sure your 10 year old will think it is the coolest movie ever, I am just not so sure it is one he should see. I give this freak circus 3 out of 5 cloves of garlic. Not a terrible time at the theater but a story and characters I would rather Tivo once a week rather than try and cram into 90 minutes. So says Matt Mungle