Disney Movie Challenge Bonus: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

 Disney Movie Challenge Bonus

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

I thought that after Mulan there wouldn't be any more live action remakes to see but then I remembered this one.  I imagine someone at Disney wanted their own Harry Potter, saw National Treasure and said get me John Turteltaub and Nicolas Cage and lets turn this old Mickey Mouse short into an action adventure movie.  Basically what I am saying is the fact that this movie exists is just bizarre.  

The movie is about Merlin's assistant Balthazar (Nicolas Cage) whose eternal quest is to find the chosen one.  After centuries looking, he finally finds him and it turns out it's an awkward kid, Dave (Jay Baruchel), from New York City.  After freeing the main villain Horvath (Alfred Molina) Balthazar must teach Dave how to be a sorcerer before it's too late.  Dave also is trying to start a romantic relationship with a girl and the whole being a sorcerer's apprentice is not helping.  Of course there is a scene where he must clean a room and tries his hand at magic and it doesn't go well.  

As silly as this movie is it does have some fun action scenes.  Nicolas Cage looks to be having fun doing weird Nicolas Cage things but it's Alfred Molina hamming it up as the villain that looks like he is having the most fun with the ridiculous premise.  Jay Baruchel is fine as Dave.  The scene with the brooms doing the cleaning seems forced but a nice nod to the source material.  

Overall: The best I can say is the movie isn't as bad as it sounds.  It's nothing special but the cast seems to be having fun.  And obviously Turteltaub knows how to take over the top concepts and somehow make them work. Just don't go in expecting a smart film sit back and enjoy the madness.